BRITISH^DOGS^AT WORK A-CROXTON - SM ITH ILLUSTRATED-BY-G-VERNON-STOKES THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID BRITISH DOGS AT WORK AGENTS AMERICA . THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 64 & 66 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CANADA . THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD. 27 RICHMOND STREET WEST, TORONTO INDIA . . MACMILLAN & COMPANY, LTD. MACMILLAN BUILDING, BOMBAY 309 Bow BAZAAR STREET, CALCUTTA : THE POINTER ALTHOUGH battue shooting has thousands of votaries there are still many men to be found who love to shoot over dogs, realising more pleasure from seeing the work of a well- trained Pointer or Setter than in counting up an enormous bag at the end of the day. The Pointer is supposed to have come from Spain early in the eighteenth century, and his stamina and scenting powers make him an invaluable dog. As a companion the Setter is more lovable and intelligent. HIS WORK He has always been used for one specific class of work, that of finding game by his scenting powers, and then " pointing " it. He will hunt indefatigably without tiring, covering a vast extent of ground in the course of a day. Undoubtedly he is much faster than he was years ago, being cleaner in build. It is questionable, however, if he has improved in his scenting capacity. A good dog should quarter the ground thoroughly as he works, so as to leave no birds behind him. HIS POINTS From a working point of view, and this is what we have to look at primarily, first consideration must be paid to those points that will enable him to last without tiring. Head long, with a distinct depression or " stop " between the eyes ; skull wide between the ears ; eyes large and intelligent - looking ; ears of fine texture placed high; neck long and muscular ; fore-legs straight and heavy in bone ; feet round and hard ; shoulders clean and sloping ; body powerful, with ribs well sprung ; loin slightly arched and very strong ; thighs and second thighs full of muscle ; stifles long and well bent. BRITISH DOGS AT WORK BY A. CROXTON SMITH WITH 20 FULL -PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOUR BY G. VERNON STOKES LONDON ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK 1906 To the Reader THE letterpress of this book makes no pre- tence of competing with the excellent works that are already in existence, its object being to afford some help and interest to the thousands who keep one or two dogs as workers or as pets, or to the more limited number who may contemplate getting to- gether a kennel for purposes of exhibition. From the questions that are frequently reaching me, I have come to the conclusion that many will be grateful for advice upon the common ailments from which dogs are liable to suffer, free from unnecessary techni- calities, together with some observations British Dogs at Work upon the general treatment of our canine friends. Mr. Vernon Stokes' illustrations are so admirable in every respect, that I feel that whatever I have to say must of necessity be subordinated to them. They will appeal alike to the connoisseur and to the man who does not know a dog in the technical sense. To the old hand, who may say that I am telling him nothing new, I may rejoin that he has already graduated in the best of all schools — that of experience — and that my remarks are largely addressed to those who are about to tread the path he has followed for years. Mr. Vernon Stokes asks me to express his thanks to the following for allowing him to use their dogs as models for his sketches : Mrs. Ingle Bepler, Irish Setters ; Mrs. Edgar vi To the Reader Waterlow, Bulldogs ; Miss Maud Bernhard- Smith, Scottish Terriers ; Mr. Edgar Water- low, Sussex Spaniels ; Dr. Cooper Bentham, Deerhounds ; Mr. A. E. Hill, Fox Terriers ; Mr. W. Wrighton Thorpe, Airedales; Mr. W. Lee, Cocker Spaniels ; Mr. B. Wells, Retrievers; Mr. A. S. Hall, Irish Wolf- hounds ; while he drew upon my own kennels for Bloodhounds and Bassets. A. C. S. Vll Contents 1. MAN'S FIRST FRIEND . .. . . . l 2. KENNELS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION . . 9 3. How TO BUY A DOG . . ... . / ', 18 4. FEEDING AND REARING .... . . 25 5. GENERAL MANAGEMENT ,v . . , '- - 40 6. HOUNDS AT WORK . is . . , . . 49 7. SHOOTING DOGS . . . . ... 68 8. THE TERRIERS . > '. . . . . 80 9. THE SCIENCE OF BREEDING. '_> . , . . . 91 10. SOME COMMON AILMENTS 110 IX List of Illustrations 1. The Pointer ., . .''. . , * ' • ,. J . Frontispiece FACING PAGE 2. The Otterhound . ...,-. *..-,. 6 3. The Beagle. >v - . . .< ., , rj 12 4. The Deerhound . • ... . . *v .- . 18 5. The Irish Wolfhound . * * . . ' *~' 24 6. The English Setter , . * . . -. 30 7. The Clumber Spaniel . ... . • / . 36 8. The Sussex Spaniel . ; ! , . . . ; . M 42 9. The Scottish Terrier . * v, . . . 48 10. The Foxhound ; . * 'f'f: . . . 50 11. The Basset Hound : . . , . . . 56 12. The Bloodhound . . . v . * . 60 13. The Irish Setter . . . . ." ;; . 68 14. The Eetriever 74 15. The Cocker Spaniel 78 16. The Fox Terrier 82 xi British Dogs at Work FACING PAGE 17. The Airedale Terrier 88 18. The Bulldog ....... 98 19. The Collie 106 20. The Old English Sheepdog . . . .118 The illustrations in colour in this Volume have been engraved and printed in England by the Hentschel Colourtype process. I MAN'S FIRST FRIEND MR. KIPLING, in one of those happy phrases of his, has spoken of the dog as man's first friend, a phrase which correctly describes the relationship between the human and canine races. This is an idea which Mr. Maeterlinck has beautifully amplified in his charming essay on the "Death of a Little Dog/' If you have not read it, may I advise you to do so without delay. "Man loves the dog/' he says, "but how much more ought he to love it, if he considered, in the inflexible harmony of the laws of nature, the sole exception, which is that love of a being that succeeds in piercing, in order to draw closer to us, the partitions, every elsewhere British Dogs at Work impermeable, that separate the species. We are alone, absolutely alone, on this chance planet, and, amid all the forms of life that surround us, not one, excepting the dog, has made an alliance with us. A few creatures fear us, most are unaware of us, and not one loves us." Exactly when this friendship was first formed and cemented into an alliance for the mutual benefit of both it is difficult to say. We do know, however, that the dog existed in a domesticated state in prehistoric times, while the pages of history bear ample testimony to the esteem in which the Canidce were held by the ancients. It is easy to conceive the many uses to which the dog was put by primitive man, especially in the direc- tion of providing food for the larder. Hounds were early subdivided into those that hunted by sight and those that hunted by scent, and we can see how the peculiar instincts of each were specialised and fostered by selec- tion. As the necessity of employing the dog as a food -provider became less he would Man's First Friend naturally come more and more into requisi- tion for purposes of sport, while his services were in continuous demand as a guard of life and property. Homer has drawn largely upon the canine race to aid him in his picturesque imagery, and scattered about Pope's translation we find abundant allusions, such as — Not fiercer rush along the gloomy wood With rage insatiate, and with thirst of blood, Voracious hounds, that many a length before Their furious hunters drive the wounded boar ; But if the savage turns his glaring eye, They howl aloof, and round the forest fly. Old writers, greatly daring, have en- deavoured to trace the descent of our hounds of to-day from the Homeric era. George Turberville, in his Noble Art of Venerie or Hunting, published in 1576, tells of a chronicle he saw in Brittany, written by John of Monmouth, an Englishman, who treats of the arrival into Italy of ^Eneas with his son Ascanius after the fall of 3 British Dogs at Work Troy. Silinius, son of the latter, was killed accidentally by his own son Brutus when hunting, whereupon Brutus found it con- venient to take a voyage into Greece, "to deliver certayne Troyans, his companions and allyes, which were yet there deteyned in captivitie since the destruction of Troye." With these he set sail, having on board a number of hounds and greyhounds, passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and "de- scended in the Isles of Armorie, which at this present is called Bretaigne in France by reason of his name was Brutus/' Turberville proceeds to recount some of the deeds of the Trojans, and winds up by saying : " I have thought it good to re- coumpte this historic that men may thereby understand that it is long since houndes have been used in Bretaigne, and I think certainly that these Troians were the first which brought the race of houndes into this country. For I find no history which maketh mention of longer continuance than 4 Man's First Friend that doth, and it is a thing most certaine, that the greatest part of the races of houndes whiche are in Fraunce and other countries adioyning, did come from the country of Bretaigne, excepting the race of white houndes, the whiche I think to be come from Barbary." It is not my purpose here to inquire whether Turberville is right or wrong in his surmise, but we know that to this day in France there are breeds of beautiful hounds whose purity of lineage has been preserved with great jealousy by successive genera- tions. That the Egyptians knew the dog about 3000 B.C. is evidenced by their monu- ments of that period, and traces of him have been found with the bones of Neolithic man. The mastiff was in these islands before the Romans discovered them ; some hold that swift hunting dogs, such as the greyhound, were indigenous to Britain, and Oppian tells of hounds that hunted by scent being fed by " the fierce nation of painted Britons, 5 British Dogs at Work who call them agasaei." However, it is scarcely necessary to dip further into the pages of history, as we may take it for granted that this strange friendship between man and dog dates back anterior to any time of which we have trustworthy record. Nor need I occupy space with a discussion as to the probable origin of the species, consider- ing that authorities differ in their views. This much we know, that there are some hundred and eighty-nine distinct varieties of the domestic dog. Lest you should regard this as an exaggerated estimate I would point out that the Kennel Club recognises thirty-seven varieties of sporting, and thirty- eight varieties of non-sporting dogs as being sufficiently established in this country to warrant a separate classification at shows. These are as follow : — SPORTING BLOODHOUNDS OTTERHOUNDS FOXHOUNDS HARRIERS BEAGLES BASSET HOUNDS — Smooth Rough THE OTTERHOUND THE sport of otter-hunting dates back into the Middle Ages, and it is still pursued with vigour in these Islands. The pure -bred Otterhound is a noble specimen of the hound tribe, and it is somewhat difficult to credit the belief that a Terrier or Deerhound enters into his composition. Any- how he is a hound all over. HIS WORK In spite of closely preserved streams the otter is still fairly plentiful, and there are some one-and-twenty packs in the United Kingdom, most of which cover a large tract of country. Few are composed of pure -bred Otterhounds, Foxhounds, cross-bred Foxhounds and Otterhounds, or Welsh Foxhounds all being used. A Bloodhound cross has also been resorted to. As a rule the otter-hunter must be an early riser, as the place of meet may be a considerable distance away, and he may rely upon getting plenty of exercise in the course of the morning's hunting. The pack . is always accompanied by several little terriers, whose duty it is to dislodge the quarry when he has sought refuge in his holt. HIS POINTS In general appearance the pure Otterhound has much resemblance to the Bloodhound, saving that his coat is rough and wiry, while his colour will be sandy or grizzled, or black and tan. The head is somewhat broader, and of course it goes without saying that body and legs must be of the stoutest, with ample muscle and plentiful depth of chest, in which heart and lungs have free play. Man's First Friend SPORTING— continued DACHSHUNDS GREYHOUNDS DEERHOUNDS BORZOIS IRISH WOLFHOUNDS WHIPPETS POINTERS SETTERS — English Irish Black-and-Tan KETRIEVERS — Flat-Coated Curly-Coated Labradors SPANIELS — Irish Water Water, other than Irish Clumber Sussex SPANIELS, contd. — Field English Springers other than Clumber, Sussex, and Field Welsh Springers Ked-and-White Cocker Fox TERRIERS — Smooth Wire IRISH TERRIERS SCOTTISH TERRIERS WELSH TERRIERS DANDIE DINMONT TERRIERS SKYE TERRIERS — Prick-Eared Drop-Eared AIREDALE TERRIERS BEDLINGTON TERRIERS BULLDOGS BULLDOGS (Toys) MASTIFFS GREAT DANES NEWFOUNDLANDS — Black White -and -Black, or other than Black NON-SPORTING ST. BERNARDS — Eough Smooth COLLIES — Rough Smooth OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOGS DALMATIANS British Dogs at Work NON-SPORTING— continued POODLES BULL TERRIERS WHITE ENGLISH TERRIERS BLACK-AND-TAN TERRIERS TOY SPANIELS— King Charles or Black-and- Tan Blenheim Ruby or Red Tricolour JAPANESE PEKINGESE YORKSHIRE TERRIERS CLYDESDALE TERRIERS MALTESE ITALIAN GREYHOUNDS BLACK-AND-TAN TERRIERS — Miniature CHOW CHOWS POMERANIANS PUGS — Fawn Black SCHIPPERKES GRIFFON BRUXELLOIS FOREIGN DOGS — Bouledogues Fran£ais Elk-Hounds Eskimos Lhassa Terriers Samoyedes, and any other variety not mentioned above II KENNELS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION " FIRST catch your hare/' said the immortal Mrs. Glasse, who, after all, was not a lady but a certain Dr. John Hill. Very admirable advice, no doubt, to the cook, but not to the would-be dog-owner. Have your accommo- dation ready before you set out to buy a dog, and do not start with the premise that any- thing is good enough, unless you wish to make a bad mistake at the outset. Dogs are sensitive beings, liable to various ail- ments, and eager to reciprocate any kindness, so please make up your mind to do the thing properly if you are going to do it at all. The smaller breeds can be slept in a box 9 2 British Dogs at Work supplied with a bed of straw or piece of carpet, in scullery or outhouse, but the bigger varieties cannot always live under a roof without inconvenience, and it becomes necessary to find them a special kennel. This need not be an elaborate affair where only one dog is under consideration, but it is obvious that if one purposes getting together a small team of sporting dogs something more extensive must be contemplated, unless one has a stable or barn with spare room. I have no sympathy with the man who thinks that a barrel placed upon its side meets all requirements, provided it has a staple affixed to it to which a chain can be fastened. This is too primitive and rigorous a method of housing, even in the case of rough -coated, hardy breeds, and is quite unsuited for cold weather. While being no advocate of coddling, I am convinced that reasonable warmth and freedom from draughts and damp are essential to a dog's well-being, especially if he is pure bred and 10 Kennels and their Construction not merely a hardy mongrel ready for what- ever the fates may send him. A roomy kennel, made of stout wood and covered out- side with tarred felt, is not an expensive affair, and well repays for the making. In many cases it could be erected as a lean-to against a wall in a sunny and sheltered position. If so constructed as to have the entrance at the side, the inmate can curl himself up at one end, away from the cold winds. Half-way across I should have a removable board at least nine inches deep which would serve to keep the straw in its place and also act as a draught screen. It is of great advantage to have one side or end hinged so that the interior may be thoroughly cleaned without difficulty, and this may also be made to serve as an outer day bench in warm weather. If you con- template breeding any puppies, to whom warmth is absolutely essential if they are to be reared, I should strongly advise having the inside of the kennel lined with cow-hair 1 1 British Dogs at Work felt and boarded over again with thin match- boarding. You will then have as cosy a place as canine heart could desire. The question next suggesting itself is : What do you propose doing with your dog in the daytime ? If you think of chaining him up I beg you to pause a moment and consider if it is not possible to devise some more humane manner of confining him to a particular spot. If he cannot have free run of garden or yard, and I am quite aware that this is not always feasible, it will not cost you much money to enclose a small space with strong wire-netting, if you do not care to run to the more presentable kennel railings. A few square feet will give Ponto a sense of freedom that he will never experi- ence at the end of a chain, and within that space you must have a wooden bench on which he can lie in fine weather, unless you adopt my suggestion as to a hinged end or side to the kennel itself. Should it be a reader's intention to get 12 THE BEAGLE ENTHUSIASTIC beaglers are numbered by their thousands, packs of Beagles being in evidence all over the kingdom, and large entries are on view at some of the leading shows at which a sporting judge is officiating. The ancient Britons are said to have used them, or at any rate a hound to which they are closely akin, and they are likely to be popular so long as there are hares to be hunted and men and women to follow them. They have a keen sense of smell, and music that cheers the heart of the sportsman. The Beagle should not exceed sixteen inches in height, and preference is usually given to a pack of twelve inches. HIS WORK His work is, of course, hunting the hare, the field follow- ing on foot. If you are getting a pack together it is necessary to have them level in size, and the man who sets about breeding them has much to learn. Pocket Beagles is a term applied to those under ten inches, and they are employed in rabbit hunting or shooting, or hunting a drag. HIS POINTS Skull domed but free from coarseness ; head fairly long, and muzzle free from snipiness ; lips well flewed ; ears long and thin ; eyes brown or hazel, not deep set or full ; throat showing some dewlap ; body short and compact ; powerful loins ; ribs fairly well sprung ; legs and feet as good as we want to see on any hound. Any hound colour is admissible, but the blue mottled are much liked. Kennels and their Construction together a small team of sporting dogs, and no easily converted brick building is avail- able, a more ambitious erection is desirable, and a wooden structure twenty feet long, six feet in depth, and five feet six inches high at the eaves, well and solidly built, lined with cow-hair felt, and divided into four compart- ments, need not cost more than about £20, unless you live in a district where unusually high wages are paid. I am, of course, speak- ing of a lean-to. This should include double doors to each compartment, in order that the top half may be left open in the daytime and on summer nights. Add also a fair- sized hole with sliding door, as means of entrance and exit, ventilators to each kennel, and guttering to carry off the rain water, and you will be equipped with a small range that will last for years. Each kennel should have a removable bench, raised a few inches from the floor, and the interior should be lime -washed right through. Lest you tell me that I am understating the cost, I may 13 British Dogs at Work as well say at once that I know of such a range of kennels, substantially built in every detail, and now practically as good as ever after ten years' use, the cost of which came within the figure named, although some of the estimates from rival carpenters were for more than double that sum. I may add that the range of kennels which is in my mind is completed with a fairly large con- creted and cemented run, sloped gradually towards one end, for purposes of drainage. If you wish to breed dogs for show purposes a run of some description is necessary, and, if room permits, I would strongly urge the advisability of having separate accommoda- tion for adults and puppies. In a work of this description, however, it would be beyond my plan to offer advice to any one proposing to go in for breeding extensively, as many details would be necessary that cannot be given in a limited space. Many experienced breeders prefer a gravel yard to concrete, but I imagine that this would come more expen- 14 Kennels and their Construction sive in the long-run, as it would be necessary to change the surface every few years. The main disadvantage of cement is that it is very cold and damp in rainy and wintry weather, and is not conducive to the well- being of young stock. Supposing you wish to breed for show purposes, you will find it desirable to give much thought to the site and arrangement of your kennels, such things as a cooking-room, store-house for straw, hampers and collars, etc., having also to be taken into considera- tion. Whatever you do, make up your mind from the beginning to have plenty of room. My ideal kennels would have duplicate com- partments, so that one could be used one week and the other the next. Over-crowd- ing is fatal, especially when you have puppies about. Plenty of air space, ample ventilation, and scrupulous cleanliness will repay one a hundredfold. As regards the best soil, opinions differ. Frankly, I have no liking for clay, yet Beckford's most recent 15 British Dogs at Work editor, Mr. J. Otho Paget, insists that kennels should never be built upon gravel, for the heat of the dogs' bodies will draw up the moisture from beneath. I imagine that a good concrete foundation would meet any such objection. One thing is quite obvious, you must shun any low -lying, damp locality, or all your best efforts will be doomed to disappointment, of which you will have ample in the ordinary course of events without going to meet it. A high situation then, if possible, facing south, in order that you may catch all the sunshine available. You will be well advised to get some large breeder to show you round his place, for, after all, there is nothing like a little practical demonstration to prevent you making bad mistakes. Every man has his own particular fad for increasing the comfort of his dogs or minimising labour. Before closing this chapter, and coming back again to the one-dog man, I should 16 Kennels and their Construction like to say that I have no sympathy with the practice of allowing one's pet to sleep in the bed-room. This seems to me to be running contrary to all the rules of hygiene, and it is not a commendable habit. Ill HOW TO BUY A DOG - THIS is not such an easy matter as it sounds at the first blush, for I have known men and women spend many an anxious hour before they could make up their minds as to what breed they should keep. The choice is so wide, the variety sufficiently great to be bewildering. If the dog is wanted purely for sporting purposes, of course the field is narrowed at once, and you cannot do better than consult some experienced friend who will tell you which is best adapted to the country in which you live. Should you be fond of hound work and yet cannot run to the finest of all sports, fox-hunting, you may derive endless pleasure 18 THE DEEKHOUND HERE we have as handsome a dog as we need wish to see, his general appearance suggesting a rough-coated Greyhound of greater size and substance. Sir Walter Scott's descrip- tion of the Scottish Deerhound might almost stand to-day. He has a considerable history, if one cares to delve into the past, and Holinshed, who wrote in the sixteenth century, tells how the Pictesh nobilitye repaired unto Craithlint, King of the Scots, for to hunt and make merrie with him. Perceiving that the Scottish dogs did far excel theirs both in fairnesse, swiftnesse, and hardinesse, they got diverse both dogs and bitches of the best kind for breed to be given them. Yet being not content they stole one belonging to the king, which led to a shrewde bickering between them, in which many died. HIS WORK Like snakes in Ireland, the work of the Deerhound does not exist to-day, the modern rifle having quite rendered his services unnecessary. Until comparatively recent times he coursed the deer, or tracked a wounded quarry. HIS POINTS Head broadest between the ears, tapering thence to the nose ; muzzle pointed ; skull flat, and coated with moder- ately long hair; ears set on high, and folded back (a prick ear, or one large and coarse, is a bad fault) ; neck long and strong; shoulders well sloped and clean; body similar to that of the greyhound, but larger and more powerful; eyes dark; coat harsh and wiry, but not woolly. Colour dark blue-grey, lighter grey, or brindle, preference being given to the darker; yellow and sandy- red, or red-fawn. How to Buy a Dog from the possession of a couple or even a single bloodhound. You can work them whenever you please, so long as a man or boy is available to act as runner ; you can pick your country, and you need not worry about sheep or seeds, because the hunted man can take any direction you desire. If you have no horse you can arrange a circular course, and watch the hound working, with the aid of a pair of field-glasses. You can study many interesting problems of scent by varying your day and hour, and I guarantee that if you are an enthusiast you will have no reason to regret your choice of one of these noble hounds. If it is your intention to do a little breeding, it is well to bear in mind that the larger breeds require more attention and are much more difficult to rear satisfactorily, for to grow a puppy to great size requires much skill and patience, and it is no easy thing to get them straight in front or free from cow-hocks behind. A larger dog, too, 19 British Dogs at Work necessarily costs more to keep than a small one. You would be surprised at the amount of food a litter of hungry six-weeks-old puppies can put away in the course of twenty-four hours. If you simply want a house pet or guard, you have further to consider whether you will have a pedigree dog from one of the prominent show strains, or whether you will be content with one of humbler lineage. A well-bred dog gives greater pleasure to the eye and is more or less a pride to his pos- sessor, but he will probably be more delicate until you have got him through his early troubles, and he will cost you more money at the outset. Few breeders of repute care to accept less than four or five guineas for quite a moderate sort of puppy, and if you want a good one of its kind you would have to pay double. If you contemplate breeding with a view to ultimate exhibiting your best plan will be to consult some acknowledged expert, should you be fortunate enough to 20 How to Buy a Dog know of one, for a little advice at the begin- ning will spare you many disappointments and much hard cash. Remember that for this purpose it is no use going in for the cheap and nasty strains, for your puppies will probably be worthless when you get them, and you will have wasted valuable time. People will not give a decent figure for a young dog that is not of the correct strain, unless he happens by chance to have particularly excellent points, and, even then, they would hesitate about paying a long price for him, as they would feel no conviction that he would be capable of reproducing his merits. Therefore a few pounds more expended at first must be regarded as a judicious investment. If it is a sporting dog that you are seeking for working purposes only, you need not trouble your head about show strains, but go to some trustworthy keeper and get him to find what you want. Here 21 British Dogs at Work again, however, if you prefer an animal with a sound pedigree, it may be pointed out that there are certain strains combining show and working blood. As a rule, it is advisable to avoid exaggerated types, and to choose a dog that looks to you to be built on workmanlike lines, and that appears to be hard and vigorous, with a frame cap- able of standing a long day in the field. In selecting a puppy, if you have half an eye you should be able to see at a glance if he looks healthy and strong. Pick one that handles nicely, with skin loose and clean, eye bright, and legs sound. Look well at his coat in order to detect any signs of eczema, and examine his mouth to see if he is under- or over-shot. There is no exact method of telling the age of an adult dog, but few reach four or five without showing grey hairs about the muzzle or betraying their years in their teeth. Dis- coloration of the teeth is not necessarily an indication of age, as it is more often than 22 How to Buy a Dog not a result of distemper, but there is a general look about a dog that reaches his fifth year which is not easily mistakable. As a rule, it is inadvisable to buy a dog after his third year, when you may consider that he is about in his prime. Some breeds age much more rapidly than others, but you may take it that life is not worth much after the ninth or tenth year. The best way of ascertaining the names and addresses of the leading breeders is by consulting the columns of one of the kennel papers, or by obtaining the catalogue of one of the chief shows, the names and addresses of the exhibitors being published at the end. It is almost an impossibility for a novice to select the best puppy from a litter, and he must throw himself upon the fair deal- ing of the breeder if he has no friend at hand to consult. Puppies have a habit of changing so much in appearance as they grow that only the skilled man can say which is likely to make the best. For 23 British Dogs at Work instance, in one variety with which I am particularly acquainted, a long, narrow head is a desideratum, but if you took the puppy with the finest head you would probably find that he would be too small and snipy when he had matured. Two clever young men, suffering from a little knowledge, once wished to purchase a puppy, for which they were prepared to pay a long price, and the breeder indicated the best, which happened to -have the thickest head in the litter. This, however, did not satisfy the buyers, who went away quite happy in the possession of an inferior specimen, which happened to have the finest skull. The fact that some varieties change in colour as they reach adult age has led to many amusing blunders on the part of the inexpert. 24 THE IRISH WOLFHOUND WE live in such a sceptical age that Goldsmith's statement about a Wolfhound reaching the stature of a yearling calf or standing 4 feet in height finds no credence. The worthy doctor's natural history, however, was notoriously inexact, and we may remain content with the knowledge that the Irish Wolfhound at one time or another was an enormous animal. For some reason or other he appears to have died out, or nearly so, and that the breed has been resuscitated so cleverly is a remarkable tribute to the small band of enthusiasts headed by Captain Graham. The Deerhound and Great Dane were the principal factors in the making of the handsome dog that graces our shows to-day. Although absolute uniformity of type may not have been reached, it becomes apparent each year that Irish Wolfhounds are becoming more level in appearance. HIS WORK His work, says some one, ceased with the death of the last wolf in Ireland. Probably that is so, for it is difficult to see what use the sportsman could now put him to. He may, however, serve the more homely if none the less admirable purpose, of being a splendid guard to person and property. HIS WORKS An Irish Wolfhound must be of great size and com- manding appearance. Dogs should not weigh less than 120 Ibs., and bitches 90 Ibs. Height of the one not under 31 inches, and of the other 28 inches. In general appearance he should much resemble the Deerhound on a larger and more massive scale. H ""•"^3^SK IV FEEDING AND REARING SUPPOSING you have started by buying a puppy, if you would rear him well you must be prepared to go to some trouble in the matter. I once sold a couple of puppies for a comparatively small figure, whose owners went to considerable pains over them. The result was that both were beautifully reared, and one changed hands at £100 when he was about a year old, and the other, becom- ing a champion, was fairly valued at a good deal more. If they had been neglected in puppy hood they would not have been worth more shillings than they were pounds in actuality. Time after time has the value of good rearing been impressed upon me by 25 4 British Dogs at Work concrete cases. No matter how well you may start you will be disappointed in the end if your feeding and exercising are wrong, and you will probably blame the breeder for having foisted a waster upon you when the fault lies at home. The thing is not really very difficult, and if you follow the few homely hints that I purpose giving you, you should be about right. First of all, bear in mind that winter puppies require more attention than those whelped in the spring. Warmth is essential to the well-being of young life, and no puppy can thrive that is kept in a cold and damp place. Any one keeping a number of dogs would naturally have a kennel for puppies warmed by preference by one of the excellent anthracite stoves, which give great heat with economy of fuel and attention. I have no hesitation in recommending anthracite, as it burns for many hours without attention, and works out at a very moderate cost. Accom- modation can usually be found for a single 26 Feeding and Rearing youngster sufficiently warm to answer all practical purposes. Toy dogs frequently have a large room in the house assigned to them, but it is not always easy to find winter quarters for puppies which give plenty of room for exercise, for you may take it for granted that many inclement days will pre- vent that outdoor liberty so desirable. An ideal environment is a country place in which the coming champion may wander about as he pleases, sleep when tired, and then roam about again. Such surroundings are, how- ever, not always available, and it is satisfac- tory to know that many good dogs are well and truly raised each year under circum- stances far more disadvantageous. A puppy that is well fed and kept under congenial conditions will sleep well and play well, and it will indeed be unfortunate if he does not develop properly also. Although it is un- wise to overtax a puppy's strength, I am a believer in getting them accustomed to going out regularly each day, and it is surprising 27 British Dogs at Work how soon they become handy enough to follow one, even in busy traffic. The bigger breeds require infinite care to prevent them going wrong on their legs, for the heavier they are the more likely is the soft bone to become crooked. Some people aver that it is impossible to rear puppies of the larger breeds in kennels, and that they must be sent out to walk. You have first to find your ideal walker, and that is a thing I have not yet succeeded in doing. It is very rarely that I have found this plan work satisfactorily in my own experience, puppies that I have sent into the country to be walked almost invariably coming back under-sized, or crooked, or with bad coats. The common opinion seems to be that the little stranger can fend for himself so long as he has one or two substantial meals of bread and milk. Unfortunately this happy- go-lucky method is rarely satisfactory. Of course, if you are merely keeping one or two puppies as pets they will remain under your 28 Feeding and Rearing charge, and you will be a poor workman if you cannot grow them in a proper manner. The usual time for weaning puppies is about the fifth week, although in some cases it is necessary to begin still earlier. Do not wait, however, until this age before giving first lessons in feeding. At the third week the little creatures may be taught to lap some w^armed cow's milk, adulterated by about equal parts of water, and you may also accustom them to the taste of broth. By the fourth week, as a rule, you will find it desirable to reinforce the mother's milk by one or two regular meals of milk from the dairy, diluted with water, and, of course, warmed, care being taken that only small quantities are allowed at a time. Com- plete weaning should take place from the fifth to the sixth week, the best procedure being to withdraw the dam at increasing intervals during the day, and it will no longer be necessary to reduce the strength of the milk by the addition of water. At 29 British Dogs at Work the sixth week the diet may consist of one meal of plain milk, another of broth, and either of these liquids thickened with stale bread well soaked and broken up, well- cooked rice, broken puppy biscuits thoroughly softened, or finely shredded meat. The addi- tion of a little green stuff to the broth is to be recommended. For big puppies, in whom size is a desideratum, a good quantity of meat is, in my opinion, absolutely necessary, although I read a letter recently from a hunting man who objected to this theory on the ground that meat-fed puppies succumb more easily to distemper. I do not think that the views of this gentleman would be endorsed by experienced breeders who aim at getting size and bone. Remember that little and often is the precept always drilled into the beginner, and do not account me a faddist if I assert that up to the tenth week it is wisest to give six meals a day. A puppy cannot with advantage take much at a time, and on no 30 THE ENGLISH SETTEE THE Setter is of great antiquity, and in early days was used for hawking and netting. It is a moot point whether he has his origin in the Spaniel or whether he existed in this4 country before the latter breed was imported. He is a very beautiful dog, his good looks being enhanced by a most intelligent expression. Whether for use in the field or simply as a companion he is a desirable possession. The leading strains of English Setters are known as the Laverack and the Llewellin. The black and tan, or Gordon Setter, hails from across the Border. HIS WORK The work of the Setter is identical with that of the Pointer. Where authorities differ so much I will not venture to hazard an opinion as to which is the better in the field. Possibly the Setter is less liable to become foot- sore, owing to the protection afforded by the hair between his toes. HIS POINTS Head moderately narrow, with a distinct occiput ; fair width between the eyes, with forehead overhanging slightly ; good length of foreface, with wide nostrils ; jaws level ; eye dark brown and full of intelligence ; ears of fine quality, set low ; body long and low ; long neck, joined to a sloping shoulder ; chest deep and thighs long ; coat soft and silky, free from curl. The range of markings is great, the ticked or flecked being much admired. Feeding and Rearing account should he be allowed to eat until his stomach is distended. You want his legs to be straight and strong, and set on clean at the shoulder, and this result cannot be attained if he overweights himself at meal- times. The over-fed puppy, as soon as he has done feeding, becomes sluggish and sleepy, whereas a healthy one should sleep and play alternately all the day. If puppies are continuously lying about, you may con- clude that something is wrong. Again, assuming that the puppies are not of a toy breed, and that bone and substance are wanted, about the sixth week I should start adding a little precipitated phosphate of lime to one meal a day — say a level tea- spoonful to every three puppies. Increase this to twice a day by the second month, and double the quantity. Let each meal, too, become stiffer in consistency and contain less liquid. Although there is no truth in the belief that cow's milk breeds worms, it is certain that it may encourage the multipli- 31 British Dogs at Work cation of these pests by aiding the secre- tion of mucus in the stomach, in which they thrive. Small quantities of cod-liver oil or Parrish's food are helpful when the youngsters are not thriving, but it is neces- sary to wa,tch the effect of the former, owing to its laxative tendencies. By the tenth week the number of meals may be reduced to four daily, and by the fourth or fifth month to three. Raw meat may be given with advantage now, and broken biscuits are also to be recommended. The foregoing observations apply more directly to those who keep several puppies, with the idea of making them develop to the utmost advantage. The man who has but one, and that intended solely as a com- panion or guard, will not of necessity be at such pains, for he will find that, after the lapping stage, the puppy can be fed quite well on household scraps, upon which he will grow apace. At the same time my directions as to the number of meals should 32 Feeding and Rearing be followed, and I would also counsel the addition of a little precipitated phosphate of lime to one of the meals. Above all, beware of that pernicious habit of feeding between meals, and avoid sugar and other sweet stuffs, which will help to produce an over-fed, dyspeptic monstrosity. The most suitable epitaph for the tombstone of many pet dogs would be : " Here lies poor Fido. Killed by the kindness of an over-indulgent mistress/' A breeder, for whose opinion I have the utmost respect, advised me to feed on whole- r meal bread in preference to white, and I have never had occasion to regret adopting his plan. This makes an excellent article of diet, whether mixed with milk or gravy, for the whelps, or with the cooked meat for adults. It is also as cheap as anything you can get, and you know that it is wholesome. By contracting with a baker, and taking a fair quantity at a time, you can buy it at somewhat less than the ordinary market 33 5 British Dogs at Work rates. It is possible, too, in many places to get stale bread at considerably reduced prices, and you want nothing better, provided it has not begun to go mouldy. The rations of an adult dog offer plenty of scope for variety, but in my opinion the basis should be meat, for we cannot forget that we are dealing with a carnivorous animal, although the conditions under which he lives preclude us from drawing too much upon the analogy of nature. One or two dogs can be fed without much trouble, household waste and biscuits, with occa- sional pieces of meat from the butcher, amply meeting all requirements. With increasing numbers, however, the problem of feeding will have to be reduced to a system, in order that the best results may be achieved at the most reasonable cost. While the owner of a large kennel will have to rely in a large measure upon horse- flesh, which may be had in London for seven shillings the half cwt. and for less in 34 Feeding and Rearing the country, the man who has half-a-dozen dogs will in all probability be able to arrange with his butcher for a supply of trimmings sufficient to keep him going, with the aid of paunches or cows' udders. The latter I believe to be wholesome and nutritious, but they require to be well cooked. Bullocks' paunches are excellent, but they must be gone over carefully for odd nails, pieces of tin, etc., which have a way of becoming embedded in them. Cods' heads and other fish cost but little, and make an agreeable change, but the cooking must be prolonged until the bones are all soft. Sheep's heads are always to be commended as making excellent broth, and the heads of fowls also give a liquor that is very nourish- ing. In my own kennels the cooker is on the go daily, except when a raw feed is given for a change, and the meat and broth have mixed with them stale bread, oatmeal made into a thick porridge, or broken bis- cuits. Once or twice weekly a little green 35 THE CLUMBEE SPANIEL HERE we have, as far as looks and dignity are concerned, the king of the Spaniel race. He stands out distinctive and apart, as befits the ducal appellation which he bears, for is he not named after the stately home of the Newcastle family1? His beginnings are somewhat obscure, most credence being given to the tradition that about the middle of the eighteenth century the Due de Noailles of that period presented some Spaniels to the then Duke of New- castle. The demeanour and appearance of the Clumber lend much force to the suggestion that a Basset Hound cross figures conspicuously in his ancestry. HIS WORK He is undoubtedly a most useful dog for the sportsman, being an all-round worker with a splendid nose and a tender mouth, if asked to retrieve. He takes readily to water, and is good on most kinds of game. He used to be largely worked in packs. HIS POINTS He is a low-set, massive animal, the dogs running to as much as 65 Ibs. in weight. He has that sedate, know- ledgable expression so much admired in Spaniels, and he is indubitably a very handsome fellow, with his creamy-white body colour carrying lemon markings. His head is large and broad on the top, his general looks betokening much sagacity and intelligence. Feeding and Rearing quantity of bread left on the tables by the lunchers and diners, and in an unexpected burst of confidence he asked me what they would do for the puddings if all the bread were sold. I really could not tell him, and, as I was not in the habit of taking pudding for lunch, the conundrum did not worry me much. Plenty of variety is desirable, as dogs, like human beings, demand a change. Now and again it is one's bad luck to get hold of a shy feeder, who requires a lot of coaxing before he will acquire reasonable habits. A new hound I once had worried my kennelman a great deal, as he objected to everything we put before him, soon becom- ing a sorry-looking creature. In despair I wrote to his former owner, and was told that a couple of quarts of milk warm from the cow would probably tempt the epicure. Failing this, a boiled chicken or young rabbit would no doubt suffice. Reckoning up the average price of London chickens to 37 British Dogs at Work be about four shillings and sixpence each, and coining to the conclusion that one chicken would not make an excessive meal, unless it happened to be a Surrey capon, I decided to try what a dose of worm medicine would do, followed by a simple tonic, and real hard exercise. It was not long before the gentleman discovered that London air produced an appetite, and we had not much further anxiety about him. Still, some will not thrive, and I think it is a good plan then to resort to cod-liver oil with their food. As a rule this is bene- ficial. Raw eggs often work wonders, but usually have to be administered sparingly, on account of the expense. It is scarcely necessary to say that each dog should be fed separately, and that if he has not cleared up his tin within a reason- able time it should be taken away from him. Never get into the habit of leaving food in the kennel. After feeding, the man should go over each dog with a towel, wiping away 38 Feeding and Rearing anything that may adhere to muzzle or ears. This precaution is particularly desir- able in the case of puppies, as a lot of messy, greasy stuff sticking about the head or ears is a prolific producer of ticks and lice. In- sist, too, on having all food utensils carefully cleaned directly they are finished with. One must be governed by the look of the dogs as to the amount kof food to be allowed to each. A fat, over-fed animal soon develops indigestion and other evils, and is unsightly at the best. Limit the rations if you find one becoming beefy. My kennelman, who has read through the proof-sheets for me, tells me that in his opinion there is nothing like bullock's blood for getting size. This should be boiled with an equal quantity of water, when it will set firm. The water can be poured off. A St. Bernard breeder, famed for the size and activity of his dogs, was an enthusiastic believer in the efficacy of bullock's blood, and the results certainly substantiate his theory. 39 GENERAL MANAGEMENT FIRST among the rules to be written large upon the walls of every kennel is: "The strictest cleanliness must be observed/' To the one-dog man this admonition need not be addressed, or, at any rate, it should not be necessary, as it is obviously impossible to have a dirty animal about one's place. Where numbers are kept, however, the rule must be rigidly enforced. In addition to the daily mop out, the kennels should have a thorough cleansing once a week, the benches being turned out and the whole place well swilled. In the winter especially you will learn to appreciate my suggestion as to the value of duplicate compartments, 40 General Management as on damp and muggy days it is sometimes difficult to get everywhere absolutely dry before shutting -up time. I need scarcely say that a dog must never be slept on a damp bench, even though the straw be dry. It is running too much risk. A lady of my acquaintance attributed the immunity of her dogs from sickness to the fact that her kennels were limewashed once a month, which was certainly a most sensible pro- cedure. If you are prepared to run to the expense of sawdust, and cover your kennel floors with it, you will be well repaid in the extra sweetness of the atmosphere. Dr. G. V. Poore, who is well known as a sanitary expert, is a keen advocate of the dry method of sanitation, contending that putrefaction is easily attained by washing down with cold water. From experiments he has been able to demonstrate the purifying qualities of sawdust, and those of us who have had a number of puppies together know that the only way to keep the place sweet and 41 6 British Dogs at Work wholesome is by having the floor thickly littered with this material. Dr. Poore would banish the water-tap from cow-houses, piggeries, and stables, his plan being to have the stalls sloping gradually to a gutter or trough filled with absorbent material, such as earth or peat-moss, which could be removed when necessary. Most people, how- ever, experience a difficulty in disposing of sawdust, which cannot easily be burnt, and which is not particularly acceptable on the manure heap. The expense of sawdust, however, need not be heavy, as it is not necessary to clear up the lot every day. In a town it will be found best to wash the excreta down a drain, but in the country it can be turned to more useful purposes. At the Dogs' Home at Battersea it is stored in large tubs with tight-fitting tops, and I have never noticed anything offensive. It is "esteemed of some value by tanners, I believe, but small quantities would scarcely be worth the trouble of keeping. 42 THE SUSSEX SPANIEL THE original habitat of the Sussex Spaniel leaves no ground for conjecture, his name indicating sufficiently the locality whence he sprang. The end of the eighteenth century saw him established in various parts of " Sussex by the Sea," and there he stood a good chance of dying as well as originating, until the dog- showing men, deciding that he was goodly to look upon, took him in hand. His first appearance on the show bench was at the Crystal Palace in 1872, and men, ever on the look-out for something new, promptly raided the southern county and boomed the breed into more than local popularity. HIS WORK He has the reputation of being a good worker, with plenty of stamina, and a freedom from any tendency to change from fur to feather, or vice versa. Being higher on the leg and shorter in body than some varieties of Spaniel, he is not so well adapted to working dense undergrowths. He gives tongue freely on a hot scent, and he has a full, deep note. Like the Clumber, he will be found useful when one is out after duck or snipe. HIS POINTS The Sporting Spaniel Society describes him as being a moderately heavy Spaniel, dogs weighing up to 45 Ibs. and bitches up to 40 Ibs. His most distinctive feature is his deep golden liver colour, sandy being objected to. His body should be long and round, with deep chest, and muscular hind-quarters ; fore-legs straight and moderately short, with plenty of feather ; coat thick and soft. General Management It is almost superfluous to say that all doors and windows should be thrown wide open in the daytime, in order to admit the greatest amount of air and sunshine possible. I have seen kennels that are damp, noisome holes, quite unfitted for the housing of any creature, much less a dog, and no animal could thrive in such. Dogs in the country keep their coats clean without much difficulty, but I am convinced that even with them a good grooming several times a week is not only beneficial but necessary. In towns a daily grooming should be insisted upon, — for long-haired dogs, with dandy brush and comb, and for short- coated ones with brush and hound-glove or towel, while there is nothing like the naked hand for a final polish. The dog looks as handsome again if he has a decent gloss on his coat ; he may be handled with comfort by his owner, and he is on altogether better terms with himself, the stimulus to the skin caused by the grooming reacting on 43 British Dogs at Work the general health of the animal, while fleas and other noxious parasites are effectually banished. Not a single flea should be found on dog or in kennel if you follow my plan. Of this I am quite certain, if this advice is scrupulously acted upon you will be much freer from eczema and other skin troubles than if the dogs are neglected in this respect. Again, I should like to point out that any incipient troubles are at once detected, unless the attendant is a very unobservant person. In some cases the daily toilet may not be feasible, and all I can say then is, do it as frequently as you can, and on no account omit to go over each dog carefully at least once a week, examining the inside of the ear to see that no canker or eczema is mani- festing itself, and looking also to the mouth and feet. Anything wrong with the ear can, as a rule, be checked in the early stages by blowing white oxide of zinc powder into the orifice twice a day, but should canker or eczema once fairly get hold, you may have 44 General Management considerable difficulty in effecting a cure. Meanwhile the sufferer will be occasioned much discomfort, if not actual pain. Frequent bathing will not be necessary if the preceding instructions are observed. My own hounds rarely ever have a wash unless they are being prepared for a show. Unless there is urgent necessity, baths are better avoided in cold weather, but in the summer an occasional dip and a good soaping are to be recommended. A word of warning is necessary about the disinfectant used in a bath. Carbolic is excellent if used in discretion, but it is imperative to bear in mind that the fluid may become absorbed by the skin, and that, consequently, a dog may be as effectually poisoned by an overdose in his bath as by taking some internally. An integral part of kennel management is exercise, for only an unusually constituted dog can be kept in proper health and condition unless he is taken out every day. 45 British Dogs at Work The larger breeds are naturally somewhat sluggish, with a tendency to lying about when at home. They should, therefore, have an hour's steady walking each day, with the exception of Sundays. Fast exercise, such as running behind a horse or bicycle, is not often desirable, and only when the animal is in good training. The smaller varieties are, as a rule, more active, and, being constantly on the move, do not need so much straightforward walking. Sporting dogs of necessity require a good deal more work to keep them fit, and always bear in mind that an obese dog is an abomination, and that the best way of keep- ing down flesh is not by a starvation diet but by exercise. The daily outing is also useful in other respects, for it means change of air and freedom from monotony. The best way in which to condition a dog for a show is to give him plenty of work and to groom him well. Fat will never look as well as muscle, and you cannot expect your exhibit to do 46 General Management well if you put him down shaped like a sausage, with slack thighs and loins, and open feet. Never kennel up the dogs at night in wet weather without first drying them thoroughly with a towel. Sporting dogs on returning from a day's work should have any caked mud removed, and should be well dried. Go over them carefully to see if any brambles or burdocks adhere to the coats, and look at feet and ears, with the view of ascertaining if they have sustained any cuts or scratches. Attention to these de- tails will be amply repaid in the additional comfort to an animal that has served you to the best of his power. It is advisable to have always handy some ointment made of boracic acid powder and veterinary vaseline. Any vaseline will do, but the description specified is much the cheaper. This is a very soothing application for cuts or for eczema in its early stages. Carbolic lotion is also to be recommended, or failing these 47 British Dogs at Work a wound should be treated with any disin- fectant fluid that may be at hand. Bad cuts on the feet will require binding up and dressing daily. Occasionally you will find that eczema causes a dog to nibble the pads of his feet raw, and the quickest way to effect a cure is to bandage the foot, as recommended above. Many dogs persist in tearing off the bandaging material as soon as you have put it on, and the only thing to be done then is to make a broad leather collar, sufficiently stiff to prevent the neck being bent far enough to reach the wound. Such a collar is necessary too at times to prevent a dog biting himself raw when he has an eczematous irritation in any par- ticular spot. I have known a dog take all the skin off for some inches square. Fortunately their flesh has a wonderful recuperative power, and it is a rare thing for any serious trouble to ensue. 48 THE SCOTTISH TEEKIEE STOUT-HEARTED, quaint of looks, and faithful to a degree, it is not surprising that the Scottish Terrier has won for himself a place in the hearts of all who know him. He is a tough little fellow, and, with increasing popularity on the show bench, he is also of considerable value when his points are good. He has, I believe, a close kinship with the Skye Terrier, although the long profuse coat of the latter lends a marked superficial difference. The Scottie looks the more workmanlike of the two, and he is certainly more suited to the house on account of his short, wiry coat. HIS WORK To the English hunting man it sounds rank treason to say it, but Scottie is largely used in the Highlands for turning out a fox while his owner stands by with a gun, but conditions are vastly different. He will also tackle an otter in the water. Indeed he has courage enough for anything. HIS POINTS In general appearance he is striking, owing to his short legs and alert expression. His head is long, domed, and covered with short wiry hair ; muzzle powerful, with level jaws ; eyes dark brown or hazel, bright and intelligent ; small prick ears, and sharp - pointed ; neck short, thick, and powerful, set on sloping shoulders ; body moderately long, well ribbed up, and with strong hind-quarters. All four legs short and heavy in bone, the front ones straight, and set on well under the body. The tail is not docked. Coat short, dense, and very hard ; best weight about 18 Ibs. for the dogs and 16 Ibs. for bitches. Colour steel or iron- grey, black or grey brindle, black, sandy, or wheaten. VI HOUNDS AT WORK WITH a sport-loving nation such as ours it is not surprising to find dogs used extensively in all branches of field sport, although since driving, with a desire for heavy bags, became general, we find much less shooting over dogs than was general twenty or thirty years ago. It is only natural, I suppose, that there should be a certain amount of antagonism between the showman and the sportsman, in spite of the fact that many of the former are to be found in the ranks of the latter. In some varieties, no doubt, the tendency of shows has been to bring about an exaggera- tion of certain points that is not desirable or needed in the working dog, and discussions 49 7 British Dogs at Work are frequently arising in the press of a more or less animated, if not acrimonious nature. In defence of showing it may be claimed at any rate that some varieties would in all probability have become extinct if it were not for the stimulus supplied by competition. This remark would have been unnecessary if as much devotion to breeding on correct lines had been brought to bear upon all sporting breeds as has been shown in the case of the foxhound, a hound that has been propagated with the greatest care and intelligence for well over a century, with the result that we have about as perfect and breedy looking an animal as can be wished. You have but to look at a fox- hound to know that he has been bred with scrupulous care for many generations, while, on the other hand, many so-called working dogs of other breeds show signs of deteriora- tion and degeneracy. It is a common thing to hear men say they are going to judge a certain breed upon "hound lines/' 50 THE FOXHOUND PETER BECKFORD, writing in 1779, complained of the paucity of literature upon fox-hunting. Since his classic work was given to the world, however, so much has been written that it is but repeating truisms to say anything in a brief space of this the noblest of all sports. The Fox- hound, as we know him to-day, is perhaps of all animals the most perfectly fitted for his particular work, so many years has he been bred with the most jealous care. Hunting is so intimately bound up with our national life as to be an integral part of it, there being no less than two hundred odd packs in the United Kingdom. HIS WORK What can one say of the Foxhound's work that has not been said times without number, and that is not common knowledge to every man who has the instinct of a sports- man ? " Hunting," said Beckford, " is the soul of a country life : it gives health to the body and contentment to the mind ; and is one of the few pleasures that we can enjoy in society, without prejudice either to ourselves or our friends." As it was then so it is to-day. Some critics are hardy enough to aver that the hound as we know him has been bred too much for pace, and has lost thereby some of his scenting powers, but it is a dangerous subject to discuss. HIS POINTS Whyte-Melville in a single verse summed up admirably the salient points to be looked for in a good hound. On the straightest of legs and the roundest of feet, With ribs like a frigate his timbers to meet, With a fashion and fling and a form so complete, That to see him dance over the flags is a treat ! Head long with broad muzzle, and flatter on the top than that of the Bloodhound ; the eye keen and determined ; neck clean and muscular, without the throatiness dis- tinguishing the slower breeds of hounds ; body enormously powerful, and legs and feet as our sporting poet describes them. A good hound has a "fashion and fling" that distinguish him from all other breeds, and make him an object of distinction and beauty. Hounds at Work apparently oblivious of the distinguishing characteristics of the variety. It is quite true that there are points common to all kinds of hounds, if we would have them at their best : legs and feet, shoulders and quarters must be beyond reproach if a hound is to stand a hard day's work, but surely one cannot reasonably contend that a foxhound or beagle, or a bloodhound or harrier can be judged in the same manner. Anyhow, the man who tries to do so will come a howler. You might as well try to judge a hackney as if he were a thoroughbred, or a shorthorn as a Jersey. Pride of place in any chapter devoted to workers must of necessity be given to the foxhound, who deserves all the flattering things that have been said about him. The glories of the chase have been sung times without number, not by our most renowned bards perhaps, for it is not easy to imagine a hunting Wordsworth or Milton, although there is every reason to believe that Shake- 51 British Dogs at Work speare was a true sportsman, understanding well the noble art of venerie. Many writers of lesser degree, however, have succeeded in giving us verse that is more than passably good, and no sporting library can be deemed complete that has not upon its shelves Somerville's The Chase and Field Sports. The former, written in blank verse in the early eighteenth cen- tury, contains many shrewd reflections on hounds and hound management, considered sound enough for frequent quotation by Peter Beckford in his classic Thoughts on Hunting. Beckford himself writes with an amount of literary distinction that is a constant delight. Whyte-Melville, too, has left us some poems that ring true. Who can read "The Place where the old Horse died " without a gulp in the throat ? And in " The King of the Pack " he has given us a vivid picture of what a good hound should be like. So much has been written upon the sport 52 Hounds at Work of kings that it would be mere redundancy for me to say more here, but perhaps a few words upon the economic aspect may not be out of place. The upkeep of a pack is a costly affair when we take into consideration the staff of hunt servants, the large stud of horses necessary, the provision of compen- sation to farmers, stopping earths, etc., in addition to the actual maintenance of the hounds themselves. You will read of Masters being guaranteed a minimum of £2000 a year, and it is doubtful if this would meet all the outlay. "Nimrod," in The Chace, which first appeared in 1832, quotes a contemporary writer as estimating the annual cost of a pack at £2235, and he declares that in the best establishments at that period very little was left out of £4000 per year. Then we have to remember the expenses of the followers of the hunt, com- puting the cost of a stud of hunters and the money spent on railway fares, hotel bills, hunting boxes, etc., and we can arrive at a 53 British Dogs at Work pretty considerable sum being paid each year by the votaries of the sport. In the United Kingdom there are no less than 200 odd packs of foxhounds and 20 packs of stag- hounds. The original outlay on a pack is also a decent sum. Mr. Foljambe's pack was sold by public auction for £3600 in 1845, and Lord Middleton paid as much as 2000 guineas for ten couples. One could go on enumerating the large sums handed over at different periods of the last century for good- looking hounds of fashionable blood did it serve any useful purpose, but enough has been said to show that a Master needs a long purse or a big subscription if he is to show good sport. Next to fox hunting comes the chase of the hare, which may be indulged in on a much humbler scale. The majority of harrier packs of the present day are com- posed of under-sized foxhounds, but we have still some showing traces of the old slow- 54 Hounds at Work hunting, tender-nosed Southern hound, and there is at Bexhill a pack of black-and-tan hounds. Beckford, who had no great liking for hare hunting, used a cross of the large slow-hunting harrier and what he called the little fox beagle, the latter imparting the desired dash and spirit. Most enthusiasts, however, aver that to get the most enjoyment out of the sport you must hunt on foot, for which purpose, of course, you must have recourse to the beagle, those between 12 inches and 15^ inches being most favoured. The man who cannot afford to ride to hounds and yet loves hound work naturally turns to beagling, and he will be rewarded by many a good day. A still smaller variety, but none the less a true beagle, is the under 10 inches or " pocket " beagle. You may use a pack for rabbit hunting, for hunting a drag, or for driving rabbits to the gun, and to whichever work you put them you may rely upon being more than satisfied. The basset hound has been sufficiently 55 British Dogs at Work long in this country to claim notice in a work devoted to British dogs. He is a grand little fellow, with the noblest of heads and the best of noses, while his note is as musical as a rich-toned bell. He is not fast, his formation preventing speed, but if you take more pleasure in hound work than in the number of kills recorded at the end of a season, you will have no cause to regret the possession of a pack of bassets. I have heard of a couple in Natal bustling the smaller buck out of the dense bush, doing the work more satisfactorily than any other breed of hound, and lasting through the longest day. Quite a number of packs are now hunted regularly in Great Britain. Twenty packs of otterhounds hunt in England, Scotland, and Ireland during the summer months, and usually attract big fields. Although a made breed, the otter- hound has been long enough in existence to come true to type, and a very handsome hound he is. Few packs, however, are com- ' 56 THE BASSET HOUND FOR some inexplicable reason this charming little hound seems to be under a temporary eclipse. Why it should be so I do not venture to explain, as there is so much to be said in his favour. It is over thirty years since he was imported into this country from France, and we have probably better specimens here than can be found in his native laud. Of the two varieties the smooth-coated is much the more popular. HIS WORK In Great Britain, Bassets are used almost exclusively for hare-hunting in packs, and rare good sport they afford to the keen man who prefers seeing beautiful hound-work without troubling too much about a kill at the end of it. Splendid noses have these gay little fellows, and voices like a Bloodhound's. How it heartens you to hear them in full cry. They will drive rabbits out of the scrub, too, and I have heard of a couple doing yeoman work in the thick bush in Natal bringing small buck to the gun. HIS POINTS Head as nearly resembling that of a Bloodhound as possible ; i.e. long and narrow, with heavy flews and pronounced occiput ; ears set low, long, and hanging in graceful folds ; heavy dewlap ; neck powerful ; chest deep ; fore-legs very short, crooked, half-crooked, or straight ; body long, with muscular quarters ; stifles well bent. Colour black, tan, and white, lemon and white, or white body, hare pied, and tan markings on head. The rough- coated variety should carry a thick harsh coat. Hounds at Work posed of pure-bred hounds, most of them being a scratch lot of foxhounds and otter- hounds. Mr. Holland Buckley in Wales re- sorted to a bloodhound cross, not, however, with the most satisfactory results, I believe. Last on my list of hounds hunting by scent comes the bloodhound, a noble-looking, dignified creature familiar to all frequenters of dog shows. His predisposition to a fatal form of distemper militates against his universal popularity, but if people only recognised what splendid sport he is capable of giving I think he would be more generally kept. If the present attempt to strengthen the constitution of the breed by means of various out-crosses is successful, as there is reason to hope that it may be, we may look for a wider recognition of the value of this beautiful hound. To many the name has a sinister significance. Does he not hunt man, and have not the pages of history and popular fiction dwelt upon his relentless pursuit of his human quarry with dire results 57 8 British Dogs at Work to the hunted man when caught ? It is not easy to convince the public that a blood- hound is one of the mildest - mannered gentlemen that ever put nose to line, and that the man he hunts is immune from harm. Yet it is so. One rarely finds a bad- tempered bloodhound, and I can quite credit the story of a man having tied his pursuer to a tree and gone on his way rejoicing. Many dogs will hunt any one they know, but the peculiarity of the well-trained blood- hound is that he will follow the line of a stranger and stick to it, no matter how many times it may have been crossed by others. This freedom from change, as we term it, is absolutely essential if bloodhounds are ever again to be used in tracking down criminals. There is no reason in the world why they should not be called in to the aid of the police, as they are in America. On the other side of the Atlantic it is common enough to hear of them running down evildoers many hours after a crime has been committed, and 58 Hounds at Work they could do so here if as much trouble were taken over their training. Many of the hounds in America that achieve such wonderful results were bred in England, or come of immediate British ancestors. For tracking poachers, escaped convicts, or perpetrators of crimes in lonely country places they would be of undoubted use, but I do not pretend to suggest that they could accomplish the impossible and carry a line through crowded streets. As I write, the public mind is agitated by the cruel murder of an old lady at Camberley and the attempted murder of others. I am convinced that if the police had had a bloodhound handy the criminal would have been in charge before many hours had elapsed. Altogether apart from the question of utility the bloodhound may be commended to the consideration of sportsmen who are not possessed of long purses. A single hound will hunt a man as well as a couple or more, and many a pretty problem in scent, 59 British Dogs at Work under varying conditions, can be worked out by their aid. You have but to send out a runner in any direction you please and put the hound on his track. The man can avoid sheep, and you need do no damage to young corn. If you are not keen on riding or do not keep a horse, you may still get plenty of enjoyment by map- ping out a circular course, which you can intersect. With the aid of field-glasses it is often possible to watch a hunt over some miles, especially if you should happen to have a convenient hill about. It is well to enter the puppy early, say when he is about seven months old. You will be astonished to see how quickly he gets his nose down. In the early lessons let the youngster see some one he knows run a short distance and hide. Then encourage him to go seek, and when he has come up to his man let him be rewarded by a tit-bit. This will make him keen. The distance may shortly be increased, and as 60 THE BLOODHOUND HISTORY and legend have invested the Bloodhound with qualities that fill the popular imagination, giving him a reputation for a ferocity that is wholly alien to his nature. A kindlier -tempered animal does not exist, nor a more tractable if taken in hand when young. He is not so suitable for town life as some breeds, as it is his habit to use his nose more than his eyes. A susceptibility to distemper in a severe form tends to keep down the numbers, and puppies are consequently valuable. HIS WORK The primary function of the Bloodhound is to hunt man, and it is surprising what he can do in this direction when carefully trained. In America there are well-authenticated cases of criminals being run down ten and twelve hours after the event, but here we regard it as good work if a hound will find his man on a line three hours cold. I am confident that the Bloodhound might be used with advantage by the police in country districts, or by gamekeepers in clearing an estate of poachers. One need have no com- punction in employing his services, as he is quite harmless when he catches his quarry. HIS POINTS A beautiful, well-balanced hound, heavier in build and slower than the Foxhound. His head is a striking feature, with its long, gracefully folding ears, and masses of loose skin, commonly called wrinkle ; the head is long, termin- ating in a clearly defined peak at the occiput ; the chest should be deep, to give plenty of heart and lung room ; front legs straight, with plenty of bone. Hounds at Work soon as the puppy shows a disposition to hunt, send the runner off without being viewed. As greater proficiency is reached allow a longer interval to elapse between the laying-on of the hound and the starting of the runner. The colder a line you can get the hound to hunt the better. At least you should endeavour to make him reach such a degree of proficiency that the hunted man may have three hours' start on a fair scenting day. It is desirable to vary your runners, and to have the line crossed by others at certain places, which may be indicated by sticks in order that you may check the hound if he shows any disposition to change. I must not forget to mention that the clean boot, i.e. a boot that has not been dressed in any way, should only be hunted. You will frequently notice that the hound will work some way down wind, parallel with the original line taken by the quarry. If you ride, give the hound plenty of room, as he has a rooted objection to being ridden 61 British Dogs at Work over. One great thing to be said in favour of this sport is that no exception can be taken to it on humanitarian grounds. One of the most satisfactory pieces of work that I can recall was performed by Mr. Edwin Brought bitch Kickshaw at some trials near Winslow promoted by the Association of Bloodhound Breeders, with Lord Lonsdale as judge. At one point was a lane which had been traversed by a herd of cattle as well as a number of farm hands. The bitch carried the line slowly along this difficult piece of country until she came to a field where the scent of the runner was no longer foiled. Evidently she was not quite satisfied by this time that she was on the correct course, so she returned to the beginning of the lane, verified her line, and once more took it up at the end of the lane, without taking any notice of the intervening portion. This seems as near reasoning as one is likely to get in a dumb animal, and it was a performance to delight 62 Hounds at Work the heart of the hound-lover. To see this bitch cast if she got off the line was a treat. After the hounds that hunt by scent we come to the greyhound, which, as every- body knows, hunts by sight. Coursing has ever been a popular sport in this country, from the time of the Anglo-Saxons onwards. A glance at old prints of greyhounds suggests that few breeds have changed less in formation than this. Originally, no doubt, he was much coarser in build, and we have good reason for believing that he had deterio- rated in courage towards the end of the eighteenth century, as the Earl of Orford of his day resorted to a bulldog cross to infuse a desirable quality that he considered lacking. To some this may have seemed a rash adventure, having in mind the funda- mental differences in the construction of the two dogs, but any one who has had experience in such hybridisation will not be surprised to learn that the sixth or seventh genera- tion showed no traces of the alien blood. I 63 British Dogs at Work had the opportunity of watching the cross out made between a bloodhound and a basset by the late Sir Everett Millais, and in less than six generations the bloodhound had disappeared. A treatise pertaining to hawking, hunt- ing, etc., published in 1496, gives a descrip- tion of the greyhound which might almost stand to-day, and for this reason I make no apology for quoting it : — A greyhounde should be headed lyke a snake, And neckyd lyke a drake, Fotyd lyke a cat, Tayled lyke a ratte, Syded lyke a teme, And chyned lyke a bream. The fyrste yere he must lerne to fede, The seconde yere to felde him lede, The thyrde yere he is felow lyke, The fourth yere there is none syke, The fyfth yere he is good ynough, The syxth yere he shall hold the plough, The seventh yere he will avaylle Grete bytches for assayle. But when he is come to the ninth yere Hounds at Work Have him then to the tannere ; For the best hounde that ever bytch had At the ninth yere is full bad. The fine old lord had the pluck he had in- troduced into his favourites, for he rose from a bed of sickness to witness a match from the back of his piebald pony, and fell dead at the moment of victory. One has but to watch the pages of the Field during the season to see how great is the hold that coursing has upon the community. Numbers of meetings are held all over the country every week, culminating in the great event which comes off each year near Liverpool. To win the Waterloo Cup is the height of the ambition of all en- thusiasts, and .great is the national excite- ment, even people who do not know the difference between a greyhound and a terrier, following the result of each round. Although but comparatively few owners of greyhounds can hope to stand a chance of lifting the Cup, in spite of the fact that it 65 9 British Dogs at Work has been won more than once by hounds that have been picked up for the proverbial song, many will try their luck at the smaller meetings or make matches with their neighbours, and a few remarks as to the method usually followed in training may not be misplaced. Getting a greyhound into condition so as to put him down fit and hard is a matter requiring considerable skill, and few private owners have sufficient knowledge to do the work themselves. To prepare a hound for public competition it will be found necessary to requisition the services of one of the professional trainers, and if you are only indulging in private coursing you must subject them to a decent amount of preliminary work. Gentle exercise should be the rule at first, and there is nothing like walking on the road, commen- cing with about six miles daily. The hounds must be watched to see that there are no indications of sore feet, and to guard against overwork. The experienced eye will tell 66 Hounds at Work at once if there are signs of staleness, as the dog becomes listless and loses his fire. Later on a horse may be used with advantage, twenty miles not being too much every other day. Of this but little should be at a gallop, a mile or so probably sufficing. As a general principle, slow going is the best. Directly the hounds come in give them a good rub down with a hair glove and the bare hand, and then see that they are kennelled up free from draughts, as they are in a condition to take a chill readily. The diet must consist in large measure of meat. By the way, greyhound nomenclature is somewhat puzzling to the outsider, who is never quite sure what is the difference between a sapling and a puppy. The former term is used until the end of the first season after the youngster is whelped. The second season finds him a puppy or first-season dog, eligible for puppy stakes. At the close of his second season he is described as an all- aged dog. 67 VII SHOOTING DOGS THERE is nothing much more annoying than to have a badly broken dog in the field. He is a constant source of irritation, and is provocative of much vigorous language. All the storming in the world, however, will not make an unsteady dog a good one, and great care must be exercised when making a purchase. Of course it is more satisfactory to have one on trial for a few days, but it is better still to buy of a man whose word may be taken unreservedly, for a newcomer cannot be expected to do himself justice in strange surroundings. If you have the time and a plentiful supply of patience there is a good deal of pleasure to be derived from 68 THE IRISH SETTEE IN Youatt's day the Irish Setter was evidently held in high esteem, as he tells us that a true one would obtain a higher price than either an English or Scottish Setter. In those days fifty guineas constituted no unusual price for a brace, and even two hundred guineas had been known to be given. The breed was maintained in its purity with great care, the red or red-and-white colour being a conspicuous feature. HIS WORK Although he does the same kind of work as the English Setter, his admirers hold that the Irishman is far better adapted for the rough and hilly country over which he is used. He is possessed of great endurance and exceptional speed, and it is claimed that at home he can beat all comers. Besides his excellence on moor or mountain, he is said to be good on snipe. It seems to me that in many ways a red- and-white dog would be preferable to a whole-coloured one, as being more easily distinguishable, but it is to be presumed that the Irish sportsmen know what is best suited for them. HIS POINTS Head long and lean; oval skull with well-defined occiput ; a stop in front of the eye ; good length in front of the eye; ears of moderate size, set low, and of fine texture; neck moderately long and muscular, slightly arched; body long, shoulders sloping; chest deep; hind- quarters powerful ; coat flat and free from waviness. Colour a rich golden chestnut, devoid of any traces of black. Shooting Dogs breaking a young dog yourself, but if you have none of these qualities you had better hand him over to the care of some trust- worthy keeper, to whom you may have to pay a fee ranging from £5 to £10, in addition to a small weekly charge for his keep. This would apply to setters or pointers, the charge for breaking a spaniel or retriever being not more than half. As the training of pointers and setters proceeds upon identical lines we may as well deal with them as one, without entering into any controversy as to which is the more useful of the two. If I had to choose myself the probability is that the setter would gain the vote. No matter what kind you have, he is a beautiful animal, and, when the shooting days are over, man need want no better or more intelligent companion. For this reason, the man who loves a dog, quite apart from the work that is required of him, would be more likely to take a setter. A setter, too, being better feathered between 69 British Dogs at Work the toes, does not go footsore so readily, and is therefore more adapted to a hard day on the moors, where the heather is apt to trouble a pointer a good deal. In selecting a puppy from a litter note the one that takes most notice of his surroundings and displays the least signs of nervousness at unwonted noises. It is scarcely necessary to say that you will pick a strong and healthy one. Early lessons cannot begin too soon, but of course they must be of an elementary nature, such as would be given to any dog that one wishes to grow up handy and under satisfactory control. Teach them to obey readily, to come to heel at command, and to kennel up instantly when told to do so. This will make the later and more important tuition comparatively easy when one starts in earnest after the novice has reached his eighth or ninth month. Too much stress cannot be laid upon the master arriving at a good understanding with the pupil as soon as 70 Shooting Dogs possible. You should be friends at all times, a friendship in which there must be firmness on the one part, but no undue shouting and harsh words, and no employment of the whip unless the puppy is particularly headstrong. More often than not, any fault evident in the dog is attributable to a bad upbringing. I have heard an irascible owner shouting at a pointer in the field in a voice loud enough to flush every covey within a mile. Serious breaking may commence at any time after the eighth or ninth month, and it will be found inadvisable to defer it much after a year. The first lesson to be inculcated is that of dropping to hand or to gun, the technical term used instead of a command to "lie down" being "down charge/' By repeating the words "down charge/' while pressing the pupil to the ground, he soon understands what is required of him, but to ensure that he shall remain so as long as desired it is usual to fasten him up by a long cord. Habituate him to remaining in 71 British Dogs at Work a recumbent position while you retire for some distance. With this lesson mastered he may be accustomed to the discharge of a gun and taught to "down charge" im- mediately he hears the report. He should also be made to understand that the holding up of a hand has the same significance, and when he knows this thoroughly you may give him a trial on birds. His inherited instinct will probably induce him to point when the scent reaches him, but if he shows a tendency to run in check him with the word " toho," or tell him to steady. Should he persist in being unsteady order him peremptorily to "down charge," and en- deavour to make plain to him the meaning of "toho." An old dog will be useful at this stage, and the young one must then be shown what it is to "back," while his companion makes a point. A long cord may be necessary to emphasise this lesson and prevent him running in to the birds. Next, it is essential that he should learn how 72 Shooting Dogs to range or quarter his ground in the correct manner. You want him to hunt as if he meant business, and not merely to potter about, and to do this properly he should go first to right and then to left instead of running straight ahead. A whistle, followed by a wave of the hand, should show him what is required ; at the same time you must remember to work him up wind. Tell him to " hold up/' if he carries his nose too near the ground, hunting the foot instead of the body scent. This is a fault more observable in pointers than setters, who are also at times inclined to work a hedgerow instead of quartering in the orthodox style. Should he persist in the first-named fault it may be necessary to affix a puzzle peg, which is a long piece of wood fastened to the collar and lower jaw in such a manner that he cannot get his head to the ground. From the first, too, he must have it made plain to him that chasing fur is a serious misdemeanour. Some old hands bring up 73 10 British Dogs at Work their puppies in association with tame rabbits, any disposition to hunt being met with the order to ' ' ware chase/' The chances are that as the first birds are killed the dog will endeavour to run in, and he will have to be punished if the " down charge " goes unheeded. The man who wants a good all-round dog, and cannot afford to run to several, will be sure to pin his faith to a retriever, or one of the varieties of spaniels. The points to be looked for in a good retriever are sagacity, stamina, scenting properties, tenderness of mouth, and steadiness. It is essential that he should be under absolute control, ready to lie by the side of his master in the butt while birds are being killed, and making no move until ordered to "seek dead/' Then he will set to work at once, first, if he is all he should be, gathering the wounded birds, and then devoting himself to the dead. In battue shooting a well -trained retriever is almost indispensable. As with pointers and 74 THE EETEIEVEE THE one-dog sportsman will have to look far before he finds anything better for his purpose than a Retriever. Of the two varieties, the flat-coated and the curly, the latter demands little notice, as, for some reason or other, he is not much in demand, popular taste inclining to the former. Youatt speaks of Newfoundland dogs having been brought to Europe and used as retrievers, and there is no doubt that we must go back to this breed to find the early parentage of the dog under discussion. The Setter, too, has helped in the making. HIS WORK His work is quite apparent from his name, but Mr. Harding Cox tells us in British Dogs that his helpmates have had not only to fulfil the role of Retriever proper, but also that of Setter, Spaniel, and Sleuth-hound. Much skill and patience are required in the breaking of a Retriever puppy, but it is well worth the trouble. HIS POINTS Head long, terminating in a muzzle moderately large, but free from lippiness ; skull flat and fairly wide ; ears V-shaped and set close to head ; eyes dark brown ; neck long and muscular ; shoulders clean and set obliquely, with deep chest and not too much spring of rib ; fore-legs straight, hind -legs with stifles fairly bent; thighs and second thighs full of muscle ; quarters also muscular ; coat flat, long, and thick. Colour a glossy black. Shooting Dogs setters, instruction in obedience cannot well begin too early. The dog must be so schooled as to be under ready control, answering at once to a whistle, and dropping to hand. If he should not take kindly to a signal by hand he should be fastened to a long cord and pulled up peremptorily if orders are disobeyed. Get him in the habit of mouthing some soft object, such as a tobacco pouch, checking him immediately if he dis- plays any inclination to bite it. Next drop the object and encourage the puppy to find and bring it to you. Ultimately he must be taught to carry a pinioned pigeon or young rabbit. When you are satisfied that he will carry a bird or rabbit without hurt, you may hide the living quarry in a tuft of grass and encourage him to "seek dead." Needless to say, when you get your beginner in the field you must instantly reprove any disposition to chase a hare or rabbit. He must only pursue a wounded bird or hare when ordered to do so. The 75 British Dogs at Work single-handed sportsman after water-fowl or snipe could not wish a more useful com- panion than a well-broken retriever. While upon this breed a word or two as to their popularity on the show bench may not be out of place. Here again we find the enthusiasts divided into two camps, the «ne declaring that show dogs are no good for work, the other averring as stoutly that a good-looking pedigree dog is quite as capable of doing a satisfactory day's work as any other. There is no doubt that there is a considerable demand for well-bred dogs, and it is said with absolute truth, I believe, that one champion, who was also a field trialler, earned his master some £1400 or more in stud fees, while his son, still in his prime, had produced very nearly as much. Big prices have also been realised by really good dogs, and we may take it for granted that puppies of first-class strains are always worth more than those which have no par- ticular breeding at the back of them. If, 76 Shooting Dogs however, you wish to go in for this sort of thing, you must start well at the beginning by laying out a fair amount of money on your foundation stock. It is useless expect- ing satisfactory results to accrue from in- different materials. Satisfy yourself, too, that the bitch comes from a genuine working strain. The man who decides on a spaniel has four or five varieties from which he can choose, but perhaps the Sussex or a cocker will be deemed the most suitable for all- round purposes. The cocker, owing to his diminutive size, is not so well adapted to retrieving heavy game as the Sussex. Not- withstanding this, his cheery nature and love of work make him a general favourite. The Clumber is a very handsome dog, and most useful withal, but he is heavier and slower, and not so fitted for a trying day in the field. A spaniel comes in handy all the year round for one thing or another. The Irish water spaniel is a hard-bitten looking 77 British Dogs at Work fellow, with a coat capable of standing any amount of wet, but he is not kept for much nowadays except wild-fowling. He has the reputation of being harder-mouthed than the other varieties. The breaking of a spaniel will proceed much on the same lines as that of a retriever. You must teach him to retrieve by hafyituat- ing him to mouthing soft objects without biting, and then get him on to a living bird, making him find at the word of command. Breaking him to hunt will be the most difficult part of his tuition, as his tendency will be to run the game on his own account, and he should be obedient to signal or whistle before you take him out. Guard against too wide ranging, and check him immediately he shows any fault. A good deal of time and patience will be re- quired, but you will be fully repaid for the days spent with the puppy if you have a perfectly broken dog at the end of 78 Shooting Dogs his schooling. While firm with him at all times, it is as well to remember that undue harshness may make him sulky or nervous, and he will then be practically useless in the field. 79 THE COCKEE SPANIEL FOE a bright, lively little fellow, companionable to a degree, and ready for any work that he may be asked to do, the Cocker has no rival. Does not everybody who lives in the country know him, and love him too ? He is one of the handiest dogs imaginable, and it is not surprising that he enjoys a wide popularity. HIS WORK Youatt tells us that in his day he was chiefly used for flushing pheasants and woodcocks from thickets into which Setters and even Springers could scarcely penetrate. From the latter bird, indeed, he takes his name. Get a small team of them, too, to bustle rabbits out of thick cover and you may have an excellent morning's sport. He is stout of heart, and will retrieve game nearly half his own weight. His superabundance of spirits may make him a bit head- strong, but he is fully amenable to judicious discipline. HIS POINTS He is a small dog, weighing from 20 to 25 Ibs., and he is of many colours, ranging from black and black and tan to liver, lemon, or red, preferably with white markings, as making him more easily distinguishable. Fore-legs straight, with plenty of bone, but not coarse ; hind-quarters power- ful, with stifles well let down ; the coat, though not very long, should be dense and smooth or slightly wavy. VIII THE TERRIERS ANY observations on British dogs at work would of necessity be incomplete without some reference to the various breeds of terriers, but there are so many excellent works upon this subject that but few observations of mine are called for. Nearly everybody has kept a terrier of sorts at some time , or another. Whether as house guards, companions, or workers they are to be numbered among the indispensable friends of man. First place in popularity must be assigned to the fox terrier, whose value ranges from a few shillings to several hundreds of pounds, according to his quality. It is not an easy thing to breed a good one, 80 The Terriers or we should have more champions about, considering the thousands that come into the world each year. The short-legged, cobby dog, so familiar to many of us in our boyhood, the type beloved by Parson Jack Russell, has passed away, and has been succeeded by a terrier that shows considerably more day- light underneath, and is longer and slacker in his couplings. His chest, too, is narrower, and he is several pounds heavier. It is very doubtful if he can live as well with hounds or go to earth as easily as his predecessor of twenty or thirty years ago. I have no doubt he is more plumb true in front, while his head is a distinct improvement so far as looks are concerned, but that scarcely makes up for his diminution in utility. A terrier of some description has been known for centuries as being employed in bolting foxes or badgers, but he was probably of a nonde- script description. Beckford recommends a good terrier to his imaginary correspondent, pleading a preference for a black or white. 81 n British Dogs at Work " Some there are so like a fox/' he says, " that awkward people frequently mistake one for the other/' Unfortunately, he does not help us much on the question of size. "Large ones are useful at times/' he writes, " if they are to run with the pack, but in an earth they da little good, as they cannot always get up to a fox/' Most of us, I suppose, can recall many a happy day with ferret and terrier bolting rabbits, and I can remember enormous quan- tities of rats destroyed in the same manner. Ratting provides plenty of fun, while serving a useful purpose at the same time. Is it necessary to remind you that this was one of the accomplishments acquired at Cambridge by the incomparable Calverley, who — Learned to work the wary dog-cart Artfully through King's Parade ; Dress, and steer a boat, and sport with Amaryllis in the shade : Struck, at Brown's, the dashing hazard ; Or (more curious sport than that) Dropped, at Callaby's, the terrier Down upon the prisoned rat. 82 THE FOX TEKEIEE THE Fox Terrier is one of the common objects of country and town alike. Wherever we go, there is he to be found either in the wire-haired persuasion or the smooth. On the show bench the Bulldog or Pomeranian may press him closely, but as prime favourite in the hearts of the multitude he holds indisputable sway. Dr. Cains, whose De Canibus Britannicis et Raris Animalibus appeared in 1570, speaks of " Terrars," which were used for the same purposes as our present-day terriers, but he give us no description whereby we can identify them with any modern breed. HIS WORK Primarily, of course, the special duty of a Fox Terrier is to accompany a pack of hounds, and to turn out reynard when he goes to earth. He must have sufficient courage to tackle a badger, and we all know and appreciate his value as a ratter. Indeed, he is a good all-round dog, even to protecting the townsman's house against the wily burglar. HIS POINTS An evenly marked head to the average man is like that blessed word Mesopotamia, and it may come as a shock to the feelings of this gentleman to know that this apparent point does not matter "tuppence." The skull should be- flat and moderately narrow, broader between the ears and decreasing in width to the eyes ; jaw strong and muscular : teeth level ; ears small and shaped like a V ; neck clean and muscular, without throatiness ; shoulders long and sloping ; chest deep, but rather narrow ; back short, with broad and powerful loin ; front legs very straight, with heavy bone and well-rounded feet ; hind-quarters muscular. The Terriers Marvellous accounts are on record of the numbers of rats killed by a terrier in an incredibly short period. Youatt, for instance, is responsible for the statement that a hundred large rats were turned into a pit and killed by a celebrated dog in six minutes thirty-five seconds. He was such a nailer that, when old and with but one eye and a couple of teeth, he accounted for fifty rodents in five minutes six seconds. This, however, must be classed as a poor form of sport, except with the object of making a young dog clever. The sterling qualities of the Irish terrier are such as to have earned him the sobriquet of Die-hard, and well does he deserve it. Ready for any work, he has a dash and go tempered with intelligence that endear him to the heart of his master. Nothing comes amiss to Paddy, and he has a constitution that equips him for any amount of fatigue and exposure. He is bigger than the fox terrier, the desirable weight for dogs being 83 British Dogs at Work 24 Ibs., and for bitches a couple of pounds less. In spite of his gameness he has an admirable temper to swell the credit side of his good qualities. The quaint, rugged - looking Scottish terrier has made remarkable advances in popular favour during the last decade, and he has become so well established* that no further booming on the part of his friends is necessary. His short, wiry coat is of little trouble to keep in order, nor does it pick up the dirt in the same manner as that of a longer-haired dog. The Skye terrier must surely be first cousin to him, but he is blessed with a long, flat coat, which must require much grooming and manipulation before he is fit for the show bench. He has the appearance of suffering from over-civilis- ation, and I must admit a preference for the hardier -looking Scottie. However, many men many minds, or perhaps one should more correctly say ladies in this case, for they seem to have taken the Skye under their wing. 84 The Terriers To Sir Walter Scott belongs the credit of having provided a distinctive name for the Dandie Dinmont. Sir Walter knew a dog, and would have him put to his proper uses. What does Dinmont say ? " A bonny terrier that, sir — and a fell chield at the vermin, I warrant him — that is, if he has been weel entered, for it a' lies in that/' " Really, sir/' said Brown, " his education has been somewhat neglected, and his chief property is being a pleasant companion/' "Ay, sir? — that's a pity, begging your pardon — it's a great pity that ; beast or body, education should aye be minded. I have six terriers at hame, forbye twa couple of slow-hunds, five grews, and a wheen other dogs. There's auld Pepper and auld Mustard, and young Pepper and young Mus- tard, and little Pepper and little Mustard. I had them a' regularly entered, first wi' rottens, then wi' stots or weasels, and then wi' the tods and brocks, and now they fear naething that ever cam' wi' a hairy skin on't." 85 British Dogs at Work It is claimed that the modern Dandie is descended directly from the terriers de- scribed by the great romancer, and I see no reason why that should not be so. It seems to be admitted that the breed has come down from the kennels of James Davidson of Hindlee, and although Sir Walter has stated in his notes to Guy Mannering that the character of Dandie Dinmont was a composite one, and not a portrait of any individual, he also says that Davidson had the humour of naming a celebrated race of terriers which he possessed by the generic names of Mustard and Pepper, according as their colour was yellow or greyish-black, without any other individual distinction, except as according to the nomenclature in the text. Scott further adds that so generally was the name of Dandie Dinmont associated with Davidson that when an English lady, desirous of possessing a brace of the cele- brated terriers, addressed him under that name, the letter reached Mr. Davidson. 86 The Terriers The appearance of the Dandle is too familiar to call for description. He is now, as he seems always to have been, a hardy, game little tyke. The Airedale is too big to answer well to the name of terrier, a dog weighing from 40 to 45 Ibs., while a bitch would be slightly less. For all that he is a sportsman, if he is unable to go to ground owing to his size ; a hound is supposed to have figured in his ancestry, but since he has come to be ex- hibited in large numbers care has been taken over his breeding, and he now comes as true to type as any other dog. Another North Country dog is the Bedlington, who also has much to commend him, but as far as one can see, he is not greatly in favour outside the kennels of *a few enthusiasts. It is only some twenty years ago that the Welsh terrier made a sort of apologetic appearance in the Kennel Club Stud-Book, but things have looked up with him since then. This is not surprising, as he is a 87 British Dogs at Work smart little fellow with plenty of spirit and many good points to recommend him. He is a black-and-tan, or black, grizzle, and tan, with a hard wiry coat, and &ny amount of terrier character. Average weight about 20 Ibs. When the anti-cropping edict was pro- mulgated by the Kennel Club plenty of pessimists were found to declare in season and out of season that the bull terrier was doomed, as it was difficult to picture one without cropped ears. Fortunately these croakings have not been fulfilled, breeders settling down to the sensible course of try- ing to produce a presentable ear. There is a clean built, muscular look about him that is pleasing to the eye, and his courage is beyond aspersion. He is a dog that will fight to the death, but there is no great practical use for him to-day, since dog-fighting and badger-baiting have gone by the board. No better guard could be wished, the very sight of him being a terror to evildoers. 88 THE AIEEDALE TEEEIER IN that good sporting county, Yorkshire, for many years a broken-haired, rough-and-ready terrier was much in vogue among the working-classes before he came to be classified as a variety under the name at the head of this page. The Airedale is a big dog, so big indeed that to call him a terrier is a misnomer. A manufactured breed, in which the Otterhound has played a considerable part, he has been in existence long enough to come true to type, and he is a smart, good-looking tyke with many admirable qualities. HIS WORK He is a hardy, tireless worker, ready for any vermin, and well suited for working the rough banks of the streams in his native county. It is no wonder that he has become very popular of recent years. HIS POINTS Head long, with flat skull, narrowing slightly from between the ears to the eyes ; scarcely any stop in front of the eye ; jaws powerful ; ears V-shaped and small ; eyes dark and small, and full of expression ; neck moderately long, free from throatiness, and widening towards the shoulder ; shoulders sloping, and chest deep ; back short, ribs well sprung ; hindquarters strong and muscular ; hocks well let down ; legs straight, with plenty of bone ; feet small and round. In colour the head and ears should be tan, with dark markings on each side of the skull ; legs also tan ; body black or dark grizzle. Weight of dogs, 40 to 45 Ibs. ; bitches a little less. The Airedale Terrier Club lays great stress upon size. The Terriers One word of advice to the novice who may contemplate buying a wire-haired terrier of any description. You may buy a smart, trim-looking fellow at a show, and in a few weeks you will be disgusted to find that he is growing a profuse, woolly coat. Remembering the Kennel Club rules against trimming you will wonder how such things can be. Well, there is no doubt that matters are not at all in a satisfactory condition, for it is generally recognised that all these dogs are subjected to a consider- able amount of preparation, to call it by its mildest term, before they are regarded as fit for the critical scrutiny of the judge. We are told that it is impossible to breed a rough terrier with the correct coat, but I am inclined to think that breeders are following the line of least resistance, and laying a pretty rod in pickle for themselves. If the coat of a dog can be got into condition by clever manipulation, is there not a danger of breeders ignoring this desirable point 89 12 British Dogs at Work altogether, and ultimately producing a soft woolly-coated terrier quite unsuited to hard work and wet ? With so many able terrier men about I cannot think that the produc- tion of a coat of desired length and texture is an impossibility, although sacrifices would have to be made in the intermediate stages. 90 IX , THE SCIENCE OF BREEDING V THE breeding of pedigree stock of any de- scription, whether it be guinea-pigs or race- horses, casts an irresistible spell over the minds of men, who are continually straining after an unattainable ideal. While some devote their attention to means of reaching the North Pole, others range the forests of South America and brave untold hardships in the hope of discovering a rare orchid, but thousands of us are doomed to spend our days at home in humble obscurity. We must have hobbies and pursuits to afford us relaxation if we are busy people, or occupa- tion if we are ranked among the idle, so we turn our spare energies towards improving 91 British Dogs at Work some variety of domestic animal or bird. I say " improving," although the chances are that we are endeavouring to produce some point that has neither beauty nor utility to commend it. The lobes of a bantam may cause its owner sleepless nights, and the colour of a toy dog may entail endless worry upon its fair owner. It is a curious world, my masters, and the philosopher who has none of our little weaknesses may well look on in mild toleration of the foibles of man- kind. Probably the chief allurement in breeding pedigree stock is the glorious un- certainty of the game. You see men start upon it, well equipped with scientific know- ledge and preconceived notions as to how the thing should be done, and behold, all their little plans are set at naught, while the plain man, with his rule-of-thumb methods and no stock-in-trade other than common sense (the rarest of all senses, as some one has well said), steps in and reaches the top of the tree without apparent effort. 92 The Science of Breeding The man who determines to try his luck at breeding dogs will do well to make up his mind at once to learn all he can from those who have graduated in the school of experi- ence. While many people are absurdly jealous about giving anything away, there are plenty of others who are only too pleased to guide the unwary from the pitfalls that abound. Read up all you can about the breed that you favour. Talk with other breeders with the object of impressing upon your mind the characteristics of the different strains and the main points and peculiarities of individual dogs. Remember that although good results may at times follow bad reason- ing, you cannot always expect to have the luck of the little French milliner who bought the winning number in a lottery. Asked afterwards if the fickle goddess had favoured her, "Mais non," she replied, "I dreamt three nights in succession of the number seven, and I said to myself, three sevens are twenty-three, and I bought that number/' 93 British Dogs at Work The axiom that like begets like has led many astray, and needs certain qualifications. It is quite true that if you mate a fox terrier with a fox terrier the resulting progeny will also be fox terriers, but it must not by any means be assumed that the produce of the best dog and the best bitch of their kind will be as good from a show point of view as their parents. This is such a commonplace to all who have kept a kennel of dogs that I write it with diffidence, but as I am en- deavouring to be helpful to beginners I trust that the older hand who does me the honour of reading these remarks will be kindly tolerant. Remember, then, that you have to take into consideration that most potent law known to biologists as the law of heredity. Put in plain language, if success is to reward your efforts you require to know the charac- teristics that are at the back of the dog and bitch you are using, what their parents and grandparents were like, and further back still, if it is possible. Certain head qualities, 94 The Science of Breeding for instance, may exist to an unusual extent in the parent stock that you are using, but if these individuals come from a weak- headed strain, the chances are that your puppies will be weak in this respect. As it is to be hoped that many who read this little work will breed sporting dogs, it is well to bear in mind that other qualities than the purely physical are also subject to this great law. The faculty of scent will be more highly developed in some strains than others, while stubbornness and lack of amenity to discipline have an unpleasant way of re- appearing in future generations. If you are of an observant mind you will soon pick up the salient features of the leading families of the variety you are breeding, but one is forced reluctantly to the conclusion that there are breeders who can never learn. Time after time we see certain people turning out puppies by the hundred with a lament- ably small percentage of dogs of the right type, while another man, with not more than 95 British Dogs at Work two or three brood bitches, manages to bring out something above the average each year with the regularity of clock-work. When you have once grasped this idea you will prob- ably arrive at the conclusion that successful dog -breeding is not merely a matter of chance, for surely luck would be on the side of the big battalions. After you have devoted much time to a study of the best representatives of any particular breed, you will have impressed upon you the fact that leading families exist within that breed. In other words, men who have been at the game for years will stamp an individuality upon their stock that is quite unmistakable, and it will soon occur to you that inter-breeding between dogs from different kennels must be carried out with a considerable amount of caution if you do not wish to meet with disappoint- ment. Experience alone can tell you how far you may safely go in amalgamating the best qualities of each. A useful tip for the 96 The Science of Breeding novice is to decide upon the strain that most fills his eye, and then, by a diligent study of pedigrees, to follow as nearly as possible upon the lines of the master. He cannot go far wrong under such circum- stances, and at any rate he will be building up an invaluable foundation stock, even if he is not fortunate enough to bring out any champions. It is a truism that to preserve type at its best a certain amount of in- breeding must be resorted to, but this is a practice calling for moderation if you do not wish to lose all your young dogs with distemper. Here you must invoke common sense to your aid in order to tell you when it is desirable to desert the strain you are following and bring in fresh blood from another kennel. If the variety of your choice is fairly numerous you will not experience much difficulty, but in some breeds you will find that inbreeding has been carried on to such an extent as to demand drastic measures in the shape of a 97 J3 British Dogs at Work rank out-cross, but this is the sort of thing not to be rushed into until you have learned the A B C of the business. The introduction of alien blood is not such a terrible business as it sounds, for if you resort to mathematics you will at once see what a small proportion of the foreign influence can be present in the third or fourth generation, yet the good effects upon the physique of the strain remain. By pre- ference, for an out-cross I should select a breed as nearly resembling in conformation, colour, and texture of coat as possible my own particular breed, and I should also let the alien be a bitch, for the simple reason that I believe the influence of the sire to be greater than that of the dam. The late Mr. James Howard of Bedford was not only a horse-breeder of the first rank, but also a very observant man, and the conclusions he arrived at, and which were quoted approvingly by the late Sir Everett Millais, were that — 98 THE BULLDOG STURDY, thick-set, uncompromising in appearance, the Bull- dog is supposed to represent our national characteristics. Certainly he has many admirable qualities, among which are to be numbered great devotion to his master or mistress, and an unfailing kindliness of temper unless insult be offered to those he loves. He is an excellent house dog, his worst habits being a tendency to snort and snore. He shares with the Fox Terrier the honour of being the most popular show dog of the day, and several have been sold of recent years for the goodly sum of £1000. In choosing one care has to be exercised in seeing that one is not buying a deformity that cannot walk a mile. A Bulldog can be active, and he can also be the reverse. Of this you may be sure, he is not so ugly as he is credited with being. HIS WORK For many years past humanitarian feelings have decreed that the Bulldog shall be among the ranks of the un- employed. His occupation has gone, with cock-fighting and other diversions of a strenuous age. HIS POINTS Skull very large, broad, and square, flat on the top, with a deep stop between the eyes ; the nose large and black, and set so far back as to come almost between the eyes ; the jaw broad and square, the lower projecting beyond the upper and turning well up ; the flews thick and deep ; the head and face well wrinkled ; eyes wide apart ; ears high on the head, small and thin ; back and neck short and powerful ; chest very wide, with fore-legs short, heavy in bone, and set wide apart ; hind -legs longer than the front, giving an arched appearance to the loins ; tail set on low, and pointing downwards. The Science of Breeding 1. From the male parent is mainly derived the external structure, configura- tion, and outward characteristics ; also the locomotive system or development. 2. From the female parent is derived the internal structure, the vital organs, and, in more proportion than the male, the con- stitution, temper, and habits. 3. That the purer the race of the parent the more certainty there is of its trans- mitting its qualities to the offspring. The parent of the purer descent will have the greater influence. 4. That apart from certain disturbing influences the male, if of pure descent and descended from a stock of uniform colour, will stamp his colour upon his offspring. Fix these views upon your mind, and you will see how it is that frequently the best puppies are bred from a bitch that in her- self is far from being up to show form, but it is also well to bear in mind that the dam must have a good pedigree at the back of her. 99 British Dogs at Work What must one look for, then, in an ideal brood bitch? Primarily I should satisfy myself that her pedigree contained the factors upon which I wished to work. Then she must be of sound constitution, with plenty of bone and substance, and withal roomy. If you have an eye for a dog or an animal of any sort you will quickly be able to decide upon the class of bitch for which you are looking. There is some- thing about her that fills the eye, but which is not easy to set down upon paper. Do not breed from immature matrons or from those that are fallen into the sere and yellow leaf. A bitch should be at her best from sixteen months to four years, but you may reasonably hope to go on using her until she is nearly seven. I have bred from them at an older period than that, but as a rule the puppies will be fewer and smaller. If you have any urgent reason for breeding from an old bitch, then you must use a young and vigorous dog. 100 The Science of Breeding The selection of a sire is far from being an easy matter. You must look at his ancestry closely, in conjunction with that of the dam, and do not be misled into sending to the most prominent champion simply because everybody else is running after him. After you have studied the question for some time you have the con- clusion forced upon you that some dogs are far more prepotent than others ; that is to say, they have a greater power of impress- ing their image upon their progeny, and by looking closely at their pedigrees you will probably find that they have been con- siderably inbred, or that their ancestors for some generations back came from the same kennel. The older and purer the pedigree the more likely is any individual to repro- duce the family characteristics. If you see any owner putting down a lot of dogs of varying types and characteristics, you may assume at once that he is bringing imperfect knowledge and intelligence to bear upon 101 British Dogs at Work his operations. Therefore you are safer in using a sire that comes from a kennel in which uniformity of type is noticeable, pro- vided, of course, that the stamp is a desir- able one. To sum up, let both sire and dam be as good as you can get them, but do not anticipate failure if it is not your fortune to secure possession of a champion bitch. Above all, avoid any glaring faults in either parent, as their elimination may be a source of much worry, especially if the dog and bitch are in any way nearly related. One other word of advice : do not be too impatient if your early efforts do not realise your expectations. A good strain does not grow with the rapidity of a certain American gourd, which springs up so quickly that the man who plants the seed has to run away lest the tendrils should entwine his legs. And because you are unsuccessful at the outset do not begin to cry out that the type is all wrong, and endeavour to have it changed to suit your own de- IO2 The Science of Breeding based coinage. This is an unsportsman- like attitude, which meets with emphatic condemnation. Unless you have a large room that can be heated it is better to arrange for your puppies to arrive in this world of trouble during the spring or early summer, but as this subject is dealt with in another chapter I need not enlarge upon it here. Never breed from a bitch every time she comes in use, or you will weaken her and produce weakly puppies. At the very least you should let her miss once in three. It is impossible to guarantee that a bitch will prove in whelp even if she has been properly served, but you can do your best to obtain the desired result by taking care that she is in good hard condition when sent to the dog. A fat bitch is far less likely to prove fruitful than one on the light side. During the period of gestation, too, obesity is most undesirable, and when a matron shows a tendency to put on flesh it is wise to increase 103 British Dogs at Work the supply of meat in the daily dietary, and reduce farinaceous stuffs. For the first five weeks she should have her usual quantity of exercise, and after this she should have plenty of walking but no rushing about. If heavy bone is desirable in the whelps a plentiful supply of meat to the dam is indi- cated, and a teaspoonful of precipitated phosphate of lime is to be advised once a day in the food. Sixty-three days is the normal period of gestation, but it is as well to be prepared for eventualities at any time after the sixtieth day. If a large litter is expected a foster- mother must be on the premises, and I have known it necessary to have a couple. Six puppies are sufficient for any dam to suckle. The date of whelping of the foster should synchronise as nearly as possible with that of the mother, as she is more likely to take to the puppies. Much diplomacy is some- times needed to ensure that the foster shall adopt the little strangers. Remove her from 104 The Science of Breeding her own and mix up with them the pure- bred ones that she is expected to nurse, and when she returns to them see that all are started suckling together. She will need careful watching for some hours. In a normally healthy bitch whelping should present little difficulty, and it is best to leave matters to nature. In the case of the bigger breeds the puppies should be removed soon after they appear, to obviate the danger of the dam lying upon them, but one may be left with her if she shows any inclination to fret. Occasionally a wrongful presentation may occur, in which case the mother will need assistance. Under such circumstances the help of a vet or experi- enced man is desirable, as the novice may do a good deal of mischief. Should labour be prolonged, liquid nourishment will be accept- able to the patient, and if signs of ex- haustion appear, a raw egg with a little brandy may be given. Occasionally, especially in the case of old 105 14 British Dogs at Work bitches, practically no labour pains are present. A slow walk or even a drive in a cab will often bring about the desired result, and some veterinary surgeons recommend the application of ice to the abdomen. If these fail, skilled assistance is necessary. When whelping is apparently over, the dam should be carefully examined for the purpose of ascertaining if a puppy remains behind, as a dead foetus, if not removed, may set up blood-poisoning. After parturition the bowels will probably be relaxed, and it is desirable they should be so unless actual diarrhoea develops. In the latter event five to ten grains of carbonate of bismuth may be shaken dry on the tongue thrice daily. During labour the bitch should be inter- fered with as little as possible, and only attended by those to whom she is attached, the presence of strangers being most dis- tasteful. She should be humoured in every way, and made to feel as comfortable as possible. When labour is ended she should 1 06 THE COLLIE THE Collie is a dog that is never likely to go out of fashion. Possibly he is not quite so popular to-day among the exhibiting fraternity as he was seven or eight years ago but his intelligence, coupled with his good looks, will prevent him falling into disfavour. It is not long since there was quite a rage for the breed, and sums of £1000 and over have been paid for particularly perfect specimens. The Collie has a long ancestry upon which to pride himself, and many are the tales related by Scottish shepherds of his remarkable intelligence. James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, tells how a flock of sheep under his charge became scattered in different directions one dark night, but in the morning he found every single one in a ravine under the charge of his dog Sirrah. HIS WORK His work of guarding the sheep makes him one of man's most useful helpmates. I do not suppose that any one would claim that dog shows have helped in any sense to develop his specialised instinct, but the sheep-dog trials that are held in different parts of the country are on quite another footing, and they have at any rate shown the public what remarkable feats the Collie can achieve. HIS POINTS Perhaps one of his most important features is his coat, which must be very dense, the outer coat being harsh while the inner is soft and close ; the skull should be flat, moderately broad between the ears, gradually tapering to the eyes; no "stop"; muzzle of fair length; the eyes should be almond-shaped, brown in colour, and full of intelligence ; ears small and semi-erect ; body fairly long,, with well-sprung ribs. The Science of Breeding be sponged with tepid water and a mild dis- infectant, and the soiled bed replaced with new. For the first few days a sloppy diet is desirable, in case any fever should be present, and to encourage the secretion of milk. Oatmeal gruel, milk, and bread -and -milk will do. Subsequently the diet must be of a generous nature, as it is obviously unreason- able to expect the nursing mother to stand an abnormal strain on her system and do her puppies well unless she has good food and plenty of it. Milk given in large quantities is not to be recommended, as it is apt to cause acidity, although the addition of half a cupful of lime-water to each pint will act as a wholesome corrective. Broth, from which all traces of fat have been carefully removed, may be given with advantage, thickened with stale bread or rice. Most mothers lie close for the first few days, but it is necessary that they should be removed from their puppies for a short period several times a day. 107 British Dogs at Work Now a word as to the puppies, upon which so many hopes are centred. Little nourish- ment is required for the first few hours after birth, and it usually suffices if they are put on to the dam when she has finished whelp- ing. If strong and vigorous they will start sucking at once, but you will find, as a rule, that one or two require some assistance and encouragement, and you must keep an eye on them for some days to ensure that they are not being starved. It is a good practice to test the quality of the milk with a piece of blue litmus paper. If there is any acidity the paper will be turned red, and in such a case the milk should be thoroughly drawn off, the youngsters being fed artificially tem- porarily. This may be the means of saving puppies that would otherwise waste away and die. If they feel flabby to the touch, and are continually crying, you may suspect the mother's milk, or that the temperature of the kennel is too low. Half a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda, dissolved in a small 1 08 The Science of Breeding quantity of water, may be given to the dam as an antacid, this dose being for medium- sized dogs. Naturally, the same precautions should be taken in the case of the foster- mother, although it is a strange thing that the puppies frequently do better on her than on their own mother. Occasionally it happens that the puppies decline to pull at some of the forward teats, which will become hard and swollen unless attention is promptly given. These should be kneaded and the milk drawn off by hand, or trouble will ensue. If the puppies should die, the mother will be caused much distress unless the milk is drawn off several times a day, and means taken to dry it. Obviously dry food is indicated, and the patient should have her udders rubbed with camphorated oil, and have a dose of castor oil. 109 SOME COMMON AILMENTS I AM making no pretence of entering upon a learned disquisition on the many diseases to which canine flesh is heir, but I propose to set down a few observations upon the commonest ailments, and to indicate simple forms of treatment. It is almost worth having sick- ness in one's kennel in order to value the increased sympathy and attachment that spring up between master and patient. A dog is a sensitive, highly-strung organism, capable of appreciating to the full any affection that may be bestowed upon him. A good home nurse is sure to succeed with dogs, for the common sense of the sick- room may with advantage be carried to the I 10 Some Common Ailments canine hospital. The more they are treated like human beings the better chance has one of success. Half the battle consists in being able to anticipate illness by detecting the early signs of ailing. This is not a difficult matter if you study your dogs with care, so that you may notice at once the dull eye, the listlessness of demeanour, and the disinclina- tion to take food with as much zest as on ordinary occasions. It may not be as easy to diagnose the complaint, but whatever may be wrong you cannot do harm by guarding against chills and taking immediate pre- cautions to minimise the trouble that may be coming. Time after time I have had forced upon me by sad experience the folly of neglecting incipient warnings, especially in the case of young stock liable to fall with distemper. You may have no reason for suspecting the presence of this dread disease, and you come to the conclusion that nothing worse than a slight chill is the matter, with the result that you are in the middle of a i ii British Dogs at Work pronounced attack before you know where you are, and you begin to wonder how many graves will have to be sunk. A clinical thermometer is an essential part of one's kennel equipment, as there is no safer guide to the variations in a dog's health. The best way of taking the temperature is in the rectum, the normal ranging from 101° to 101*5°, while in the mouth it will be about 2° lower. Puppies will be 1° higher, and it has been noted that individuals vary, but you must suspect something wrong if the temperature falls below 99° or rises above 103° in the rectum. The pulse of an adult, which will best be taken in the groin, ranges from 70 to 90 beats per minute, in puppies under three months from 120 to 140, from the sixth to the ninth month from 90 to 110. It is a good plan to accustom yourself to the pulse of a healthy dog, and to the heart and chest sounds by auscultation and per- cussion, as only by these means are you able to detect readily variations from the normal. I 12 Some Common Ailments As distemper is the commonest and most fatal disease from which dogs suffer, it will be as well to deal with that first, although it is not within the province of a layman to treat the subject exhaustively. This is the work of the trained hand, and, if you value your puppy, I should strongly advise calling in skilled advice, at any rate until long experience has given you a considerable knowledge of this complicated and dangerous complaint. There is no such thing as a "distemper age/' of which some people are so fond of talking. A puppy may contract it at six weeks, or he may escape until he is eighteen months. While some never take it at all, it is a rare thing for a dog that is shown to escape. It is a contagious disease, which cannot be contracted spontaneously, and it is particularly puzzling in its early stages, as a dog may be ailing for some time without displaying any clearly defined symptoms beyond general lassitude and a slightly elevated temperature. A puppy is British Dogs at Work less immune in damp muggy weather. The period of incubation after contact with the virus is from four to fifteen days, and then only slight symptoms may be observable. It is well to distrust the majority of so- called cures, for the disease assumes so many forms that it is quite obvious that the same specific cannot be efficacious in each case. Loss of appetite, a dry nose, and a disinclina- tion to exercise are among the early danger- signals, which may be followed with sickness, diarrhoea, and a hollow cough. If pursuing a normal course, a discharge from nose and eyes will appear, first thin and irritating, and then thick enough to clog the nostrils. The dog's efforts to clear the nasal passages have given rise to the term " snifters." The temperature, which should be taken thrice daily and registered on a chart, may show a considerable elevation, as much as 106° or more by no means being uncommon. The first thing to do is to put the patient into a warm, well-ventilated room, which can be 114 Some Common Ailments kept at an equable temperature. This is absolutely essential if you would pull the sufferer through. Next put on him a warm coat, with gamgee wool underneath, so as to afford ample protection to the chest. The best plan for making a jacket is to take a piece of blanket of sufficient size, cut two holes about six inches apart, put the front legs through these, and then sew up with a packing-needle along the back and under the throat. The ordinary form of coat is practi- cally useless, as the most important organs are left exposed. The nose and eyes must be constantly freed from the discharge by means of tepid water and some mild disinfectant, and the sick-room must be kept well venti- lated and scrupulously clean. Wash the gums frequently with Condy's fluid. The breathing is assisted if the air is moistened with sanitas or Friar's balsam in boiling water. A little eucalyptus is also helpful, applied to the nose. A simple febrifuge may be made up of thirty-six grains each of sali- 115 British Dogs at Work cylate of soda and salicine, dissolved in three ounces of water, and given three times a day, a teaspoonful to a small dog and a tablespoon- ful in the case of one of the larger breeds. If this does not reduce the temperature, give three times in one day, this dose being for a big dog : 10 grains salicylate of soda, 5 grains phenacetin, and 5 grains sulphate of quinine. Repeat in three or four days. It is important that the bowels should act freely, and, in the case of a troublesome cough and much phlegm, an emetic may be given with advantage, such as fifteen to twenty grains of sulphate of zinc and a tea- spoonful of wine of ipecacuanha. The eyes need watching to prevent ulceration, and boracic acid ointment may be applied to the lids, while your chemist would make you up an eye lotion, of which Goulard's extract of lead should be the chief ingredient. The strictest attention must be paid to the diet, for, after all, good nursing is the most important factor contributing to re- 116 Some Common Ailments covery. You will quite understand that with a temperature liquid foods of a highly nourishing nature are necessary, although it does occasionally happen that a little finely- chopped or scraped lean beef or mutton may be helpful. However, you must rely princi- pally upon beef-tea, raw egg, egg-and-milk, plain milk, Benger's food, bovril, etc. A tea- spoonful of plasmon may be added to any of these with advantage. Bear in mind that this is a terribly weakening disease, and that the strength of the patient must be main- tained at all costs. Therefore he should be fed hourly, with only a few ounces at a time, lest the stomach be over-taxed. If the attack is a severe one it is almost certain that the dog will have to be drenched, and this need not be a formidable affair if you have tact and a kindly manner. It must be so done as to cause the least possible distress. I prefer to use a bottle without much shoulder. Face the patient, and, without any fuss or harshness, hold the lips on one 117 British Dogs at Work side with your left hand, and insert the bottle on the other side, making a pouch of the lips with your right hand. You will find it desirable to thicken the liquid slightly with arrow-root or corn-flour, as, if given thin, it is apt to cause a good deal of coughing, which may end in vomit- ing. If the dog is seriously ill, feeding hourly night and day is necessary. Alcohol in the early stages is not indicated, but if there is great weakness, resort to brandy pretty frequently, and port wine is not to be despised. If diarrhoea and sickness are present, from five to fifteen grains of carbon- ate of bismuth may be shaken dry upon the tongue three times a day, and the milk should be thickened with arrow-root. You will also find that Benger's food, being pre- digested, will be retained when others fail. If no complications ensue, the patient should be showing signs of improvement in about a fortnight, but you must still exercise unremitting care, for I know nothing so 118 THE OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG ONE of my earliest recollections is of a shaggy, unkempt, cute -looking dog trudging along behind the drovers in charge of herds of cattle or flocks of sheep en route to one of the great cattle markets of the Midland Counties. Since then I have renewed his acquaintance in a much glorified form at all the leading dog shows. " Could one of these carefully groomed, gorgeous creatures ever descend to such menial work again?" I ask myself. Well, I fancy he would if you wished him to, for the eye is still full of fire and intelligence, and he has the look of a workman. HIS WORK His work and that of the Collie are practically the same. You will find him accompanying shepherds all over the country, and you may still see him following cattle or sheep to market. His sagacity is of the highest order. HIS POINTS Skull capacious, says the Specialist Club, and rather squarely formed, giving plenty of room for brain power ; well arched over the eyes, and all the head covered with hair ; jaw fairly long, strong, and square ; ears small and carried flat to the side of the head ; fore-legs perfectly straight and heavy in bone; shoulders sloping; body rather short and very compact, with well -sprung ribs ; loin stout and slightly arched; coat profuse, hard in texture, and shaggy. Any shade of grey, grizzle, blue, or blue marled, with or without white markings. Tail docked. k: a T Some Common Ailments liable to relapse as distemper. The tempera- ture must have been normal some days before you get on to any solid food, and this must only be given in small quantities for some time. Keep the dog quiet and free from any chance of contracting a chill for a week or two after he is apparently recovered, and do not hurry about exercising him, if you would avoid chorea or paralysis. The worst complications to be feared are pneumonia and fits, both of which are a source of great mortality. The beginning of pneumonia is not easily detected, but if you notice a rise in temperature you should sound the lungs by placing the ear to the side, or, better still, by using a stethoscope, and if you hear a crackling with the breath- ing you may be satisfied as to what is the matter. In its more advanced stage there is much difficulty in breathing, and a distress- ing cough. Relief may be obtained by rubbing the sides and chest with turpentine or mustard oil, but you will do well to call 119 British Dogs at Work in a vet. without delay. My own experience has been that the nervous system is most likely to become affected when the tempera- ture remains elevated for any considerable period without showing any inclination to fall. A distemper fit is quite different from that of an epileptic nature, the main evi- dence being at first a slight twitching or champing of the jaws. The attacks become increasingly frequent until the patient begins to cry out most pitifully. For treatment, dissolve two drams of bromide of potassium in four ounces of water, and give from a tea- spoonful to a tablespoonful three times daily, according to the size of the dog. Chorea frequently follows fits, and is by no means an uncommon sequel to distemper, and should the attack be severe there is little hope of recovery. A mild case may be helped by a course of Easton's syrup, from ten to thirty drops being given thrice daily in water after feeding. While upon this subject I may mention 120 Some Common Ailments that once when I had an outbreak in my own kennels I asked a well-known physician if he could give me any tips, and he suggested injecting into the veins of the patient the blood from a dog that had just recovered. Unfortunately, having no dog that had got through the disease, I was not able to act upon this advice. Next to distemper, worms must be accounted a plentiful source of trouble, especially among puppies, practically all of which suffer from these pests. There are several varieties of these parasites, but those most frequently met with are the round worm and the tape-worm, the former being commonly found in puppies. They are the cause of endless mischief, and when they are present you cannot expect a whelp to thrive. In sucking puppies worms may cause enter- itis, while the host may also develop fits, or die of stoppage or perforation of the bowels. I have known a little charcoal in the milk act as a vermifuge with puppies just begin- 121 16 British Dogs at Work ning to lap, but the safest and most effica- cious remedy that I have tried for puppies between four and eight weeks old is the mix- ture recommended by " Ashmont " in Kennel Secrets. This is composed as follows : — Wormseed oil, 16 drops ; oil of turpentine, 2 drops ; oil of anise, 16 drops ; olive oil, 3 drachms ; castor oil, 4£ drachms. Administer early in the morning, in an equal quantity of milk, having first warmed the medicine slightly. For large or medium-sized puppies under six weeks give half a teaspoonful, and double the dose from the sixth to the eighth week. If the physic has not acted in an hour's time, a teaspoonful of castor oil in warm milk will assist it. The toy breeds being delicate, not more than half the above dose should suffice for them. A simpler remedy, though I have not always found it act as well, is half a grain of santonine in a teaspoonful of castor oil for terrier size puppies about the sixth week, and double quantity for one of the larger breeds. The 122 Some Common Ailments quantity may also be doubled after the tenth week. Between the third and fourth month I have used a level teaspoonful of powdered areca nut, combined with one or two grains of santonine. This should always be administered in the early morning, before a meal. The puppy should be fasted at least twelve hours. The smaller breeds are better with only half a teaspoonful of the areca nut and one grain of santonine. Follow in an hour with castor oil, and a little warm milk will also be helpful. The easiest way of giving this medicine is to mix it with a small quantity of dripping or butter, and then smear it on the tongue. This in my experience is much more satis- factory than pouring it down with milk or pushing a ball down the throat, and the puppy is not nearly as likely to vomit. The same rule is applicable to adults. As areca nut loses its virtue after it has been powdered it is better to grate it freshly on a nutmeg- grater, although I admit that this is a 123 British Dogs at Work tedious process. For reducing a quantity to powder a coffee machine is handier than anything I know, the nut first being broken with a hammer. Adult dogs should be treated several times a year for intestinal parasites, even though their presence may not be apparent. The dose of areca nut is, roughly, a grain for every pound the dog weighs, though I do not think more than 100 grains necessary even for big dogs. Add two to five grains of santonine, according to the size of the animal, and fast for twenty-four hours, following up in an hour's time with castor oil. As the whole of the worms may not be expelled at the first time of asking it is well to repeat the dose in about a week. Many of the well-known specialists for canine medicines put up worm balls, which are quite efficacious if you do not want the bother of mixing your own physic. The presence of tape -worm is recognis- able by the small segments, rather over 124 Some Common Ailments half an inch long, which come away in the excreta. Eczema is a common and troublesome complaint from which pure-bred dogs suffer to an alarming extent. It may be caused by lack of exercise, over-feeding, insufficiency of meat in the diet, worms, etc. Mild cases, manifested by a redness of the skin, or by small sore patches, may frequently be checked in the beginning by treatment with carbolic lotion, or dressing with an ointment made of veterinary vaseline and flowers of sulphur. A little sulphur may be added to the food with advantage, and I have found a Blaud's iron pill given once a day an admirable blood tonic. In bad cases commence the treatment by giving an ounce of Epsom salts dissolved in four ounces of water, for big dogs, and slightly under half an ounce for terriers. Dip the patient in a mild bath of carbolic or Jeyes' fluid, and then dress thoroughly with the following, at intervals of several days : linseed oil, 1 pint ; oil of 125 British Dogs at Work tar, 2 ounces ; cocoa-nut oil, \ pint ; flowers of sulphur, 4 ounces. Mix thoroughly and warm before using. It is messy but effectual. The two kinds of mange, sarcoptic and follicular, are caused by parasites. The sarcoptic, which is the commoner, is highly contagious, as the parasites live mainly on the surface of the skin. For this reason it is more readily cured. The irritation is con- stant, and the hair falls off rapidly in patches. The sulphur dressing recommended for eczema may be employed with advantage, the whole of the body being well saturated. The kennels require a thorough fumigating with burning sulphur, and must be well washed down with a strong disinfectant, and all woodwork lime-washed. Follicular mange is caused by the parasite burrowing into the skin, and it is almost incurable. Unless the dog is of considerable value it is scarcely worth while trying to cure him. Fortu- nately it is not nearly as contagious as the 126 Some Common Ailments other form, other dogs frequently coining in contact with the patient without contracting the complaint. Common sense, however, sug- gests the complete isolation of a sufferer. The head is usually the first place attacked, little bare patches appearing with the skin thickened. Pimples filled with pus are noticed, and the skin assumes a bluish colour. You will observe that the dog has a habit of shaking himself instead of scratching, as in the case of sarcoptic mange. If you are un- lucky enough to get a visitation of this wretched disease you cannot do better than call in a vet. Diarrhoea is almost sure to appear in the kennels at some time or other, and it is as well to seek the cause at once. A chill may be responsible, worms will do the mischief in puppies, or your man may not pay sufficient attention to the cleanliness of the feeding and drinking utensils, or the cooker. Food has a habit of decomposing in hot weather, and causing a general attack of sickness. It 127 British Dogs at Work is always best to resort to a dose of castor oil first, with the object of getting rid of any irritant. Then, in all probability, carbonate of bismuth, in doses varying from five to fifteen grains, three times a day, will effect a cure. Sometimes this is not sufficient, and you have to fall back upon careful dieting on slops, mainly of arrow-root. In bad cases I have used dry corn-flour mixed with brandy with good results. If there is much pain, opiates are called for, such as ten to fifteen drops of laudanum in castor oil. Three drops may be given to medium-sized puppies four weeks old. Colic may be treated in the same manner, and if the castor oil does not promote action of the bowels an enema of boiled starch and a few drops of laudanum should be tried. This is useful, too, in bad diarrhoea, as having a soothing effect. Epileptic fits need no description, so easily recognisable are they. At such times the dog is not responsible for his actions, and precautions must be taken to ensure that he 128 Some Common Ailments does not bite the attendant when recovering. A prolonged treatment of bromide is in- dicated, ten grains of bromide of strontium being administered three times daily with the food for a month, and then twice daily for several months. I have seen it suggested that these fits may be caused by auricular mange, the acarus being found in the choco- late-coloured discharge deep-seated in the ear. Get a mixture of olive oil, 100 parts ; naphthol, 10 parts ; ether, 30 parts, and inject once a day, holding the folds of the ear for a few minutes in order that it may take full effect. For canker in the ear wash out with some mild disinfectant, and then blow in white oxide of zinc twice daily. Wounds should be bathed with mild antiseptics, stitches frequently having to be inserted in the case of severe laceration. 129 17 Ind ex Adult dogs, feeding of, 34 Ailments, some common, 110 Airedale, the, 87 Alcohol, 118 Basset hound, the, 55 Beckford, 52, 81 Bitch, the brood, 100, 103 Bloodhound, the, 19, 57 Breeding, the science of, 91 Brough, Mr. Edwin, 62 Bull terrier, the, 88 Buying a dog, 18 Canker in the ear, 129 Cleanliness, 40 Clinical thermometer, the, 112 Coughs, 116 Dandie Dinmont, the, 85 Diarrhoea, 127 Disinfectants, a warning, 45 Distemper, 57, 113 Distemper fit, 120 Dog shows, 49 Dogs, domestic, varieties of, 6 Ear, canker and eczema of, 44 Eczema, 125 Exercise, 45 Eyes, the, 116 Feeding, 25 Fits, 119, 128 Foster-mothers, 104 Foxhound, the, 50, 51 Fox terrier, the, 80 General management, 40 Greyhound, the, 63 Grooming, 43 Harriers, 54 Heredity, law of, 94 History, the dog in, 2 Hounds at work, 49 Hounds, descent of, 3 Hounds, judging, 50 Howard, Mr. James, 98 Inter-breeding, 96 Irish terrier, the, 83 Kennels and their construction, Kennels, position of, 15 Lime-washing, value of, 41 British Dogs at Work Man's first friend, 1 Mange, 126 Millais, Sir Everett, 64, 98 "Nimrod," 53 Ointment, a useful, 47 Orford, Earl of, 63 Otterhounds, 56 Out-crossing, 98 Pedigree dogs, 20, 76 Physic, how to administer, 117 Pneumonia, 119 Pointers, 69 Pulse, the, 112 Puppies, 14, 22, 26, 70, 103, 108, 121 Puzzle peg, 73 Rat-killing extraordinary, 83 Rearing, 25 Retriever, the, 74 Russell, Parson Jack, 81 Scott/ Sir Walter, 85 Scottish terrier, the, 84 Setters, 69 Shooting dogs, 68 Sire and dam, influence of, 99 Sire, selection of, 101 Skye terrier, the, 84 Somerville, 52 Spaniel, breaking of, 78 The Clumber, 77 The Cocker, 77 Irish Water, 77 The Sussex, 77 Sporting dogs, 47 Stud fees, 76 Temperature, the, 112 Terriers, the, 80 Trimming, 89 Turberville, George, 3 Type, 97, 102 Right and wrong, 95 Waterloo Cup, the, 65 Welsh terrier, the, 87 Whelping, 105 Wholemeal bread, 33 Whyte-Melville, 52 Worms, 121 Writers on sport, 52 THE END Printed by R. & R. 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